Electronic apparatus and method of outputting content by the electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided are an electronic apparatus and a method of outputting content. The method includes establishing a wireless communication connection with a second electronic apparatus, receiving apparatus information of the external apparatus from the second electronic apparatus, requesting the second electronic apparatus to establish a wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus, receiving a response to the requesting from the second electronic apparatus, establishing a wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus based on the response; and outputting content by using an executed second application of the first electronic apparatus via the wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/021,346, filed on Sep. 9, 2013, in the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office, which claims priority from Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2012-0099465, filed on Sep. 9, 2012, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein intheir entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One or more exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic apparatus anda method of outputting content, the method performed by the electronicapparatus.

2. Related Art

Portable apparatuses have become capable multi-tasking and providingvarious services and functions. Various applications that areinstallable in portable apparatuses are also being developed.

The portable apparatus may be connected in a wireless or wired mannerwith various external apparatuses by using the application installed inthe portable apparatus, and may transmit content to the various externalapparatuses. However, a user input is required to connect the portableapparatus with the various external apparatuses. If the portableapparatus and the various external apparatuses are being connected toeach other for a first time, the procedure for connecting theapparatuses to each other may be complicated and inconvenient.

SUMMARY

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented exemplary embodiments.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a method ofoutputting content, the method performed by a first electronic apparatusis provided. The method includes operations of establishing a wirelesscommunication connection with a second electronic apparatus, the secondelectronic apparatus wirelessly communicating with an external apparatusto output content reproduced in a first application to the externalapparatus, receiving apparatus information of the external apparatusfrom the second electronic apparatus, requesting the second electronicapparatus to establish a wireless communication connection between thefirst electronic apparatus and the external apparatus, receiving aresponse to the requesting from the second electronic apparatus,establishing a wireless communication connection between the firstelectronic apparatus and the external apparatus based on the response,and outputting content by using an executed second application of thefirst electronic apparatus via the wireless communication connectionbetween the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus. Thesecond application may be compatible with the first application.

The outputting of content may include receiving the content reproducedin the first application from the second electronic apparatus, andoutputting content corresponding to the received content by using anexecuted second application of the first electronic apparatus via thewireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatusand the external apparatus.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a method ofoutputting content, the method performed by a second electronicapparatus is provided. The method includes operations of outputting, viaa wireless communication connection with an external apparatus, contentthat is reproduced in a first application of the second electronicapparatus, establishing a wireless communication connection with a firstelectronic apparatus in which a second application is executed,transmitting, to the first electronic apparatus, apparatus informationof the external apparatus, receiving, from the first electronicapparatus, a wireless connection switch request with respect to theexternal apparatus, analyzing compatibility between the firstapplication and the second application, transmitting a response to thewireless connection switch request to the first electronic apparatus,and in response to the first electronic apparatus and the externalapparatus connecting, transmitting the content to the first electronicapparatus.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a method ofoutputting content, the method performed by an external apparatus isprovided. The method includes operations of establishing a wirelesscommunication connection with a second electronic apparatus andoutputting content received from the second electronic apparatus,receiving a request for switching the wireless communication connectionfrom the second electronic apparatus to a first electronic apparatus,transmitting a response to the request to the second electronicapparatus, establishing a wireless communication connection with thefirst electronic apparatus based on the response, receiving, from thefirst electronic apparatus, content corresponding to content receivedfrom the second electronic apparatus; and outputting the contentreceived from the first electronic apparatus. The external apparatus maybe selectively connected to the first electronic apparatus or the secondelectronic apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates connection between a host apparatus, a targetapparatus, and an external apparatus, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of a host apparatus, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of the target apparatus, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2C illustrates a block diagram of the external apparatus, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of outputtingcontent, the method performed by the host apparatus, the targetapparatus, and the external apparatus, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating the method ofoutputting content, the method performed by the host apparatus, thetarget apparatus, and the external apparatus, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate the method of outputting content, themethod performed by the host apparatus, the target apparatus, and theexternal apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a packet format, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of outputtingcontent, the method performed by the host apparatus, the targetapparatus, and a plurality of external apparatuses, according to anotherexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating the method ofoutputting content, the method performed by the host apparatus, thetarget apparatus, and the plurality of external apparatuses, accordingto an exemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 9A through 9D illustrate the method of outputting content, themethod performed by the host apparatus, the target apparatus, and theplurality of external apparatuses, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like referencenumerals or signs refer to like parts or elements that performsubstantially the same functions.

While terms “first” and “second” are used to describe variouscomponents, the components are not limited to the terms “first” and“second”. The terms “first” and “second” are used only to distinguishbetween each component. For example, a first component may be similar toa second component without conflicting with the inventive concept. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

Throughout the specification, the term “application” may be softwarethat is executed in a computer operating system (OS) or a mobile OS andis used by a user. For example, the application may include a wordprocessor application, a spread sheet application, a contactsapplication, a calendar application, a memo application, an alarmapplication, a social network service (SNS) application, a chattingapplication, a map application, a music player application, or a videoplayer application. In one or more exemplary embodiments, theapplication may be software that is executed in a portable apparatus oran external apparatus (e.g., a server, etc.) connected in a wireless orwired manner with the portable apparatus. In one or more exemplaryembodiments, the application may be software that is executed in theportable apparatus in response to a received user input.

Throughout the specification, “content” may be displayed on an executedapplication. For example, the content may include a video or audioreproduced by the video player application that is one of theapplications, audio reproduced by the music player application, a photodisplayed in a photo gallery, a web page displayed on a web browser, orthe like. The content may include a video file, an audio file, a textfile, an image file, or a webpage that is displayed or executed in theapplication. The content may include a video file, an audio file, a textfile, an image file, or a webpage that is executed according to a userinput (e.g., a touch, etc.).

The content may include a screen of the executed application, and a userinterface that configures the screen of the executed application. Inaddition, the content may include one item of content or a plurality ofcontents.

Throughout the specification, the term “widget” may be amini-application that is one of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) thatsupport interoperation between a user and an application or an OS. Forexample, the widget may include a weather widget, a calculator widget, aclock widget, or the like.

Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are tobe construed as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Throughout the specification, a singular formmay include plural forms, unless there is a particular descriptioncontrary thereto. Terms such as “comprise” or “comprising” are used tospecify existence of a recited form, a number, a process, an operations,a component, and/or groups thereof, not excluding the existence of oneor more other recited forms, one or more other numbers, one or moreother processes, one or more other operations, one or more othercomponents and/or groups thereof. Like numbers in the drawings refer tolike elements that perform substantially the same functions throughout.

Throughout the specification, the terms “wireless connection switchrequest with respect to an external apparatus” and “external apparatusswitch request” mean a request for switching a wireless connection withthe external apparatus from one apparatus to another apparatus.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “atleast one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire listof elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

FIG. 1 illustrates connection between a host apparatus, a targetapparatus, and an external apparatus, according to an exemplaryembodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, a display apparatus 100 (e.g., the host apparatus),a tablet apparatus 200 (e.g., the target apparatus), and an externalapparatus 300 (e.g., a wireless audio apparatus) may be connected in awireless manner with each other by using their communication units (notshown). For example, the display apparatus 100, the tablet apparatus200, and the external apparatus 300 may be connected in anintra-structure mode in which apparatuses are wirelessly connected toeach other via an ad-hoc mode or an access point (AP). The displayapparatus 100 and the tablet apparatus 200 may be wirelessly connectedvia a server (not shown). Further, the display apparatus 100, the tabletapparatus 200, and the external apparatus 300 may be wirelesslyconnected via the server.

Wireless communication may include, but is not limited to, mobilecommunication, wireless local area network (LAN) such as Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), ZigBee, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD), ultrawideband (UWB), infrared Data Association (IrDA), and Near FieldCommunication (NFC). The display apparatus 100, the tablet apparatus200, and the external apparatus 300 may be connected to each other in awired manner by using a connector.

The display apparatus 100 that outputs content (e.g., video) reproducedby an application (e.g., a video player application) may output audiocorresponding to the content by using the external apparatus 300 that isconnected to the display apparatus 100 in a wireless manner. When aninteroperating application is reproduced in the tablet apparatus 200 inresponse to a request from the tablet apparatus 200, the tabletapparatus 200 may output content that is received from the displayapparatus 100 via seamless connection. The tablet apparatus 200 may beconnected in a wireless manner with the external apparatus 300 and mayoutput sound corresponding to the content. Each of the display apparatus100, the tablet apparatus 200, and the external apparatus 300 maytransmit or may receive various information (e.g., applicationinformation, host apparatus information, tablet apparatus information,external apparatus information, compatibility information, etc.)corresponding to interoperability and seamless connection.

FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of a host apparatus, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the display apparatus 100 (e.g., the hostapparatus) that receives a control signal from a remote controller (notshown) may be connected in a wireless or wired manner with the targetapparatus 200 (e.g., a tablet apparatus) and/or the external apparatus300 (e.g., a wireless audio apparatus by using a communication unit 130or an input/output (I/O) unit 160. The display apparatus 100 may bereferred to as an electronic apparatus or the host apparatus that may beconnected in a wireless or wired manner with the target apparatus 200and/or the external apparatus 300 and may provide applicationinformation to the target apparatus 200. The display apparatus 100 mayoutput audio (or video) corresponding to content via the connectedexternal apparatus 300.

The target apparatus 200 may be an electronic apparatus that isconnected in a wireless manner with the display apparatus 100 andreceives the application information from the display apparatus 100, ormay be the electronic apparatus that is connected in a wireless mannerwith the external apparatus 300 by the display apparatus 100 and outputsthe audio (or the video) corresponding to the content to the targetapparatus 200.

The external apparatus 300 indicates an electronic apparatus that may beconnected in a wireless manner with the display apparatus 100 and/or thetarget apparatus 200 and may output audio or video received from one ofthe display apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200. For example, theexternal apparatus 300 may include, but is not limited to, a hometheatre (not shown), a wireless sound-bar (not shown), a wirelessheadset (not shown), a wireless earphone (not shown), a wirelessheadphone (not shown), a monitor (not shown), a mobile phone (notshown), a smartphone (not shown), a desktop personal computer (PC) (notshown), a notebook PC (not shown), and a tablet PC (not shown). Theexternal apparatus 300 may be controlled in a wireless manner by thedisplay apparatus 100 or the target apparatus 200.

The display apparatus 100 may include not only a display unit 170 (e.g.,a display, etc.) but may also include a tuner 120, a communication unit130 (e.g., a transceiver, communicator, etc.), and an I/O unit 160(e.g., an input/output device, etc.). The display apparatus 100 mayinclude not only the display unit 170 but may also include a combinationof the tuner 120, the communication unit 130, and the I/O unit 160. Inaddition, the display apparatus 100 including the display unit 170 maybe electrically connected to a separate electronic apparatus (e.g., aset top box (not shown)) having the tuner 120. For example, the displayapparatus 100 may be embodied as an analog television (TV), a digitalTV, a three-dimensional (3D) TV, a smart TV, a light-emitting diode(LED) TV, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV, a plasma TV, or amonitor, but the display apparatus 100 is not limited to these examples.

The display apparatus 100 includes the tuner 120, the communication unit130, a microphone 140, a camera unit 145 (e.g., a camera, etc.), alight-receiving unit 150 (e.g., a light receiver, etc.), the I/O unit160, the display unit 170, an audio output unit 175 (e.g., an audiooutput, speaker, headphones, etc.), a storage unit 180 (e.g., a storage,a memory, etc.), and a power unit 190 (e.g., a power supply, etc.). Thedisplay apparatus 100 may include at least one sensor (e.g., anilluminance sensor, a temperature sensor, etc. (not shown)) that detectsan internal status or an external status of the display apparatus 100.

A control unit 110 (e.g., a controller, etc.) included in the displayapparatus 100 may include a processor 111, a read-only memory (ROM) 112that stores a control program for controlling the display apparatus 100,and a random-access memory (RAM) 113 that is used to store a signal ordata received from an external source of the display apparatus 100 or isused as a storage domain for various tasks that are performed in thedisplay apparatus 100.

The control unit 110 controls all operations of the display apparatus100 and a flow of signals between internal elements 120 through 190 ofthe display apparatus 100, and performs a data processing function. Thecontrol unit 110 controls power that is supplied from the power unit 190to the internal elements 120 through 180. If a condition that is inputor is set by a user and is stored is satisfied, the control unit 110 mayexecute an operating system (OS) and various applications stored in thestorage unit 180.

The processor 111 may include a graphic processing unit (GPU) (notshown) for processing graphics that correspond to an image or a video.The processor 111 may be embodied as a System on Chip (SoC) including acore (not shown) and the GPU. The processor 111 may include a singlecore, a dual-core, a triple-core, a quad-core, or a multi-core.

The processor 111 may include a plurality of processors. For example,the processor 111 may be embodied as a main processor (not shown) and asub-processor (not shown) that operates during a sleep mode. Theprocessor 111, the ROM 112, and the RAM 113 may be connected to eachother via an internal bus.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the term “a control unit of adisplay apparatus” includes the processor 111, the ROM 112, and the RAM113.

The control unit 110 of a second electronic apparatus (e.g., the displayapparatus 100) outputs, via a wirelessly-connected external apparatus,content that is reproduced in a first application of the secondelectronic apparatus; connects in a wireless manner with a firstelectronic apparatus (e.g., the target apparatus 200) in which a secondapplication is executed; transmits, to the first electronic apparatus,apparatus information of the wirelessly-connected external apparatus;receives, from the first electronic apparatus, a wireless connectionswitch request with respect to the external apparatus; analyzescompatibility between the first application and the second application,and transmits a response to the wireless connection switch request tothe first electronic apparatus; and if the first electronic apparatusand the external apparatus are connected, transmits the content to thefirst electronic apparatus.

The control unit 110 may control the second electronic apparatus (e.g.,the display apparatus 100) to transmit the apparatus information of theexternal apparatus 300 to the first electronic apparatus (e.g., thetarget apparatus 200), in response to one of connection between thefirst electronic apparatus and the external apparatus 300, and receptionof information about the first application.

The control unit 110 may control the second electronic apparatus toanalyze compatibility between the first application and the secondapplication, in response to an external apparatus switch request fromthe first electronic apparatus.

The control unit 110 may request the external apparatus 300 to changereception of the content from the second electronic apparatus toreception of the content from the first electronic apparatus, and maycontrol the second electronic apparatus to receive, from the externalapparatus 300, a response to the change request.

The control unit 110 may control the second electronic apparatus totransmit, to the first electronic apparatus, a response to the externalapparatus switch request, according to a result of the compatibilityanalysis.

When the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus 300 areconnected, the control unit 110 may control the second electronicapparatus to terminate connection with the external apparatus 300.

The control unit 110 may provide at least one of visual feedback,acoustic feedback, and tactile feedback, according to a switch of awireless connection with the external apparatus 300.

A configuration and operations of the control unit 110 may vary in oneor more exemplary embodiments.

The tuner 120 may tune and select a frequency of a channel that a userwants to receive via the display apparatus 100. The frequency may beobtained by tuning, via amplification, mixing, and resonance, frequencycomponents of a broadcasting signal that is received in a wired orwireless manner. The broadcasting signal includes an audio signal, avideo signal, and additional information (e.g., an electronic programguide (EPG)).

The tuner 120 may receive a broadcasting signal from various sourcesincluding ground wave broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellitebroadcasting, internet broadcasting, or the like. The tuner 120 may alsoreceive a broadcasting signal from a source such as analog broadcastingor digital broadcasting. The broadcasting signal received by the tuner120 is decoded (e.g., audio decoding, video decoding, or additionalinformation decoding) and is split into audio, video, and/or additionalinformation. The split audio, video, and/or additional information maybe stored in the storage unit 180 by control of the control unit 110.

The display apparatus 100 may include one or more tuners 120.

The tuner 120 may be embodied as one body (i.e., all-in-one) with thedisplay apparatus 100, may be embodied as a separate electronicapparatus (e.g., a set-top box (not shown) that is electricallyconnected with the display apparatus 100 and has a tuner part, or may beembodied as a tuner (not shown) that is connected to the I/O unit 160.

The communication unit 130 may connect, by control of the control unit110, the display apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200 and/or theexternal apparatus 300. The control unit 110 may transmit applicationinformation, may transmit and receive content, and may transmit anapplication to the target apparatus 200 and/or the external apparatus300 by using the communication unit 130.

The communication unit 130 may include one of a wireless LAN 131,Bluetooth 132, and a wired Ethernet 133 so as to correspond toperformance and a structure of the display apparatus 100. In addition,the communication unit 130 may include a combination of the wireless LAN131, the Bluetooth 132, and the wired Ethernet 133. The communicationunit 130 may receive, by control of the control unit 110, a remoteadjustment signal (including a control signal) of a remote controller(not shown). The remote adjustment signal may be implemented as aBluetooth-type remote adjustment signal or a radio frequency (RF)-typeremote adjustment signal.

The communication unit 130 may further include other short-rangecommunication (e.g., NFC (not shown), BLE (not shown), etc.), inaddition to Bluetooth.

The microphone 140 receives an uttered voice of a user. The microphone140 may convert the received voice into an electrical signal and mayoutput the electrical signal to the control unit 110. The voice of theuser may include a voice that corresponds to a menu or a function of thedisplay apparatus 100.

The microphone 140 may be integrally formed with the display apparatus100 or may be separately formed from the display apparatus 100. Theseparately-formed microphone 140 may be electrically connected to thedisplay apparatus 100 via the communication unit 130 or the I/O unit160.

The microphone 140 may or may not be used based on the performance oftasks on the display apparatus 100 and a structure of the displayapparatus 100.

The camera unit 145 receives an image (e.g., sequential frames) thatcorresponds to a user's motion including a gesture within a recognitionrange of a camera. For example, a recognition range of the camera unit145 may be within a distance of 0.1 to 5 m from the camera unit 145 to auser. For example, the user's motion may include a motion of a part of abody of the user, e.g., a face, a facial expression, a hand, a fist, ora finger of the user. The camera unit 145 may convert, by control of thecontrol unit 110, the received image into an electrical signal and mayoutput the electrical signal to the control unit 110.

If the camera unit 145 includes a plurality of cameras, a 3D still imageor a 3D motion may be obtained by using a first camera in a bezel and asecond camera (not shown) that is adjacent to the first camera, thesecond camera being apart from the first camera by a distance greaterthan 2 cm and less than 8 cm.

The camera unit 145 may be integrally formed with the display apparatus100 or may be separately formed from the display apparatus 100. Aseparate apparatus (not shown) including the separately-formed cameraunit 145 may be electrically connected to the display apparatus 100 viathe communication unit 130 or the I/O unit 160.

The camera unit 145 may or may not be used based on the performance oftasks and a structure of the display apparatus 100.

The light-receiving unit 150 receives an optical signal (including acontrol signal) from an external remote controller (not shown) via alight-receiving window of a bezel. The light-receiving unit 150 mayreceive an optical signal corresponding to a user input (e.g., a touch,a press, a touch gesture, a voice, or a motion) from the remotecontroller. The control signal may be extracted from the optical signalby control of the control unit 110.

The I/O unit 160 receives, by control of the control unit 110, video(e.g., a moving picture, etc.), audio (e.g., a voice, music, etc.), andadditional information (e.g., an EPG, etc.) from an external source ofthe display apparatus 100. The I/O unit 160 may include one of ahigh-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port 161, a component jack162, a PC port 163, and a universal serial bus (USB) port 164. The I/Ounit 160 may include a combination of the HDMI port 161, the componentjack 162, the PC port 163, and the USB port 164.

A configuration and operations of the I/O unit 160 may vary in one ormore exemplary embodiments.

By control of the control unit 110, the display unit 170 displays, on ascreen, a video included in a broadcasting signal that is received bythe tuner 120. The display unit 170 may display content (e.g., a video,etc.) that is received via the communication unit 130 or the I/O unit160. The display unit 170 may output, by control of the control unit110, a video stored in the storage unit 180. The display unit 170 maydisplay a voice user interface (UI) (e.g., a voice UI including a voicecommand guide) for performing a voice recognition task corresponding tovoice recognition or a motion UI (e.g., a motion UI including a usermotion guide for motion recognition) for performing a motion recognitiontask corresponding to motion recognition.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the display unit 170 may output, bycontrol of the control unit 110, a visual feedback that corresponds toswitching a wireless connection with the external apparatus 300.

The audio output unit 175 outputs, by control of the control unit 110,audio included in a broadcasting signal that is received by the tuner120. The audio output unit 175 may output audio (e.g., music or a sound)that is input via the communication unit 130 or the I/O unit 160.Further, the audio output unit 175 may output, by control of the controlunit 110, audio stored in the storage unit 180. The audio output unit175 may include at least one of a speaker 176, a headphone outputterminal 177, and a Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF)output terminal 178. The audio output unit 175 may include a combinationof the speaker 176, the headphone output terminal 177, and the S/PDIFoutput terminal 178.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the audio output unit 175 mayoutput, by control of the control unit 110, acoustic feedback thatcorresponds to switching a wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300.

The storage unit 180 may store, by control of the control unit 110,various data, programs, or applications for driving and controlling thedisplay apparatus 100. The storage unit 180 may store signals or aplurality of pieces of data that are input/output so as to correspond tooperations of the tuner 120, the communication unit 130, the microphone140, the camera unit 145, the light-receiving unit 150, the I/O unit160, the display unit 170, the audio output unit 175, and the power unit190.

The storage unit 180 may store a control program for a control operationby the display apparatus 100 or the control unit 110, an applicationthat is originally provided by a manufacturer or is downloaded from anexternal source, a GUI related to the application, an object (e.g., animage text, an icon, a button, etc.) for providing the GUI, userinformation, documents, databases, or related data.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the term “storage unit” includesthe storage unit 180, the ROM 112 and the RAM 113 of the control unit110, or a memory card (e.g., a micro secure digital (SD) card (notshown) or a USB memory (not shown)) mounted to the display apparatus100. The storage unit 180 may include a non-volatile memory, a volatilememory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid-state drive (SSD).

Although not illustrated, the storage unit 180 may include abroadcasting receiving module, a channel control module, a volumecontrol module, a communication control module, a voice recognitionmodule, a motion recognition module, a light-receiving module, a displaycontrol module, an audio control module, an external input controlmodule, a power control module, a voice database, or a motion database.The aforementioned modules and databases (not shown) of the storage unit180 may be implemented as a plurality of pieces of software forperforming a broadcasting reception control function, a channel controlfunction, a volume control function, a communication control function, avoice recognition function, a motion recognition function, alight-receiving control function, a display control function, an audiocontrol function, an external input control function, a power controlfunction, or a power control function of the other external apparatus soas to control power of the other external apparatus that is connected ina wireless manner (e.g., Bluetooth). The control unit 110 may performthe aforementioned functions by using the plurality of pieces ofsoftware, respectively.

The power unit 190 supplies, by control of the control unit 110, power,which is input from an external power source, to the internal elements120 through 180. The power unit 190 may supply, by control of thecontrol unit 110, power to the internal elements 120 through 180. Thepower may be output from one or more batteries (not shown) arranged inthe display apparatus 100.

At least one of the elements 120 through 190 of the display apparatus100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A may be removed or at least one element maybe added thereto, according to performances of the display apparatus100. Positions of the elements 120 through 190 may be changed tocorrespond to performance or a structure of the display apparatus 100.

FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of the target apparatus 200,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the target apparatus 200 may be connected in awired or wireless manner with the external apparatus 300 by using amobile communication unit 220 (e.g., a mobile communicator, a mobiletransceiver, etc.), a sub-communication unit 230 (e.g., asub-communicator, etc.), or a connector 265. The target apparatus 200may include a mobile phone, a smartphone, an MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3)player, a video player, a tablet PC, a wearable device, an electronicinteractive whiteboard, or a display device. The display device mayinclude an analog TV, a digital TV, a 3D TV, a smart TV, an LED TV, anOLED TV, a plasma TV, a monitor, a curved TV with a screen having afixed curvature, a flexible TV, a bent TV with a screen having a fixedcurvature, and/or a changeable-curvature TV capable of changing itscurrent screen curvature in response to a received user input. However,examples of the display device are not limited thereto.

The target apparatus 200 may indicate an electronic apparatus having atouchscreen 290 and capable of transmitting or receiving data (orcontent) to or from an external source by using the mobile communicationunit 220 or the sub-communication unit 230. The target apparatus 200 mayindicate an electronic apparatus having an input pen and a touch screenand capable of transmitting or receiving data (or content) to or from anexternal source by using the mobile communication unit 220 or thesub-communication unit 230. The target apparatus 200 may indicate anelectronic apparatus having the touch screen 290 and a battery (notshown). The target apparatus 200 may indicate an electronic apparatushaving a display unit (e.g., a display unit (not shown) that only has adisplay panel, without a touch panel) and capable of transmitting orreceiving data (or content) to or from an external source by using themobile communication unit 220 or the sub-communication unit 230. Thetarget apparatus 200 may include an electronic apparatus capable oftransmitting or receiving data (or content) to or from an externaldevice by using interaction (e.g., a touch or a touch gesture) that isinput to the touchscreen 290. The target apparatus 200 may have one ormore touchscreens. In addition, the target apparatus 200 may have aplurality of screens that are divided on one touchscreen.

The target apparatus 200 may indicate an electronic apparatus that isconnectable in a wireless manner with the display apparatus 100 andreceives application information from the display apparatus 100, or mayindicate an apparatus that is connected in a wireless manner with theexternal apparatus 300 by using information received from the displayapparatus 100 and outputs audio (or video) corresponding to content tothe external apparatus 300

The target apparatus 200 includes a control unit 210, the mobilecommunication unit 220, the sub-communication unit 230, a multimediaunit 240, a camera 250, a global positioning system (GPS) 255, an I/Ounit 260, a sensor unit 270, a storage unit 275, and a power supplier280. The target apparatus 200 includes the touchscreen 290 and atouchscreen controller 295.

The control unit 210 may include a processor 211, a ROM 212 storing acontrol program for controlling the target apparatus 200, and a RAM 213used to store a signal or data received from an external source of thetarget apparatus 200 or used as a storage domain for various tasks thatare performed in the target apparatus 200.

The control unit 210 controls all operations of the target apparatus 200and a flow of signals between internal elements 220 through 295 of thetarget apparatus 200, and performs a data processing function. Thecontrol unit 210 controls a power supply to the internal elements 220through 295 by using the power supplier 280. If a condition that isinput or is set by a user and is stored is satisfied, the control unit210 may execute an OS and an application stored in the storage unit 275.

The processor 211 may include a GPU (not shown) for processing graphics.The processor 211 may be embodied as a SoC including a core (not shown)and the GPU. The processor 211 may include a single core, a dual-core, atriple-core, a quad-core, or a multi-core. The processor 211, the ROM212, and the RAM 213 may be connected to each other via an internal bus.

The control unit 210 may control the mobile communication unit 220, thesub-communication unit 230, the multimedia unit 240, the camera 250, theGPS 255, the I/O unit 260, the sensor unit 270, the storage unit 275,the power supplier 280, the touchscreen 290, and the touchscreencontroller 295.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the control unit 210 of a firstelectronic apparatus (e.g., the target apparatus 200) connects the firstelectronic apparatus in a wireless manner with a second electronicapparatus (e.g., the display apparatus 100) that outputs content, whichis reproduced in a first application, via a wirelessly-connectedexternal apparatus; receives apparatus information of the externalapparatus from the second electronic apparatus; transmits an externalapparatus switch request to the second electronic apparatus and receivesa response to the external apparatus switch request from the secondelectronic apparatus; and connects the first electronic apparatus in awireless manner with the external apparatus 300, reproduces the content,which is received from the second electronic apparatus, in a secondapplication, and outputs the content via the wirelessly-connectedexternal apparatus 300. The second application is compatible with thefirst application.

The control unit 210 may control the first electronic apparatus (e.g.,the target apparatus 200) to be connected with the external apparatus300 by using one of the apparatus information of the external apparatus300 and the response.

The control unit 210 may control the first electronic apparatus (e.g.,the target apparatus 200) to receive, from the second electronicapparatus (e.g., the display apparatus 100), all or a part of theapparatus information of the external apparatus 300 stored in the secondelectronic apparatus (e.g., the display apparatus 100).

The control unit 210 may control the first electronic apparatus (e.g.,the target apparatus 200) to transmit, to the second electronicapparatus (e.g., the display apparatus 100), an external apparatusswitch request message including media information corresponding toinformation about the second application.

The control unit 210 may control the first electronic apparatus toreceive, from the second electronic apparatus, a response message aboutthe external apparatus switch request message. The response messageincludes access rights information with respect to the externalapparatus 300.

The control unit 210 may control the content to be seamlessly output viathe external apparatus 300 while the content is reproduced in the secondapplication.

The control unit 210 may control the first electronic apparatus toprovide at least one of visual feedback, acoustic feedback, and tactilefeedback, in correspondence to an output of the content to the externalapparatus 300. The content is reproduced in the second application.

When a plurality of the external apparatuses are connected with thesecond electronic apparatus, the control unit 210 may control the firstelectronic apparatus to receive apparatus information of each of theplurality of external apparatuses from the second electronic apparatus.

When the first electronic apparatus receives the apparatus informationof each of the plurality of external apparatuses from the secondelectronic apparatus, the control unit 210 may control the firstelectronic apparatus to select one of the external apparatusescorresponding to a plurality of pieces of received apparatusinformation, and to request the second electronic apparatus to switch awireless connection with the selected external apparatus from the secondelectronic apparatus to the first electronic apparatus.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the term “a control unit” includesthe processor 211, the ROM 212, and the RAM 213.

The mobile communication unit 220 may connect, by control of the controlunit 210, the target apparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300 byusing one or more antennas via a mobile communication network. Themobile communication unit 220 may exchange a wireless signal for a voicecall, a video call, a short message service (SMS), a multimedia message(MMS), and data communication with a mobile phone (not shown), asmartphone (not shown), a tablet PC, a tablet device, or anotherportable apparatus (not shown) that has a connectable telephone number.

The sub-communication unit 230 may include at least one selected from awireless LAN 231 and a short-distance communication unit 232 (e.g., ashort-range transceiver, etc.). For example, the sub-communication unit230 may include one of the wireless LAN 231 and the short-distancecommunication unit 232 or may include both the wireless LAN 231 and theshort-distance communication unit 232.

The wireless LAN 231 may be connected to an AP, according to a controlof the control unit 210, by using wireless communication in a placewhere the AP is installed. The wireless LAN 231 supports a wireless LANstandard (IEEE802.11x) of the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE). The short-distance communication unit 232 maywirelessly connect, by control of the control unit 210, the targetapparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300 by using short-distancecommunication without the AP. The short-distance communication mayinclude Bluetooth, BLE, IrDA, Wi-Fi, UWB, NFC, or the like.

The target apparatus 200 may include at least one selected from themobile communication unit 220, the wireless LAN 231, and theshort-distance communication unit 232, according to performance of thetarget apparatus 200. For example, the target apparatus 200 may includeone of the mobile communication unit 220, the wireless LAN 231, and theshort-distance communication unit 232, or a combination of the mobilecommunication unit 220, the wireless LAN 231, and the short-distancecommunication unit 232. The target apparatus 200 may be connected to anexternal accessory (e.g., a wireless speaker, a wireless headset, etc.)by using one of the mobile communication unit 220 and thesub-communication unit 230.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the term “communication unit”includes the mobile communication unit 220 and the sub-communicationunit 230.

The multimedia unit 240 may include a broadcasting receiver 241, anaudio reproducer 242, or a video reproducer 243. The broadcastingreceiver 241 may receive, by control of the control unit 210, abroadcasting signal (e.g., a TV broadcasting signal, a radiobroadcasting signal, or a data broadcasting signal) and broadcastingadditional information (e.g., an EPG or an electric service guide (ESG))that are broadcast from an external broadcasting station via an antenna(not shown). The control unit 210 may reproduce the broadcasting signaland the broadcasting additional information by using the touchscreen290, a video codec (not shown), and an audio codec (not shown).

The audio reproducer 242 may reproduce, by control of the control unit210, an audio source (e.g., an audio file with a file format of mp3,wma, ogg, or wav), which is pre-stored in the storage unit 275 of thetarget apparatus 200 or is received from an external source, by using anaudio codec.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the audio reproducer 242 mayreproduce, by control of the control unit 210, acoustic feedback (e.g.,an output of the audio source stored in the storage unit 275) by usingan audio codec so as to correspond to a switch of a wireless connectionwith the external apparatus 300 and an output of content to the externalapparatus 300.

The video reproducer 243 may reproduce, by control of the control unit210, a digital video source (e.g., a file with a file format of mpeg,mpg, mp4, avi, mov, or mkv), which is pre-stored in the storage unit 275of target apparatus 200 or is received from an external source, by usinga video codec. A multimedia application that is installable in thetarget apparatus 200 may reproduce an audio source or a video file byusing an audio codec and/or a video codec. A multimedia application thatis installable in the target apparatus 200 may reproduce a video file byusing a hardware codec (not shown) and/or a software codec (not shown).

In the present exemplary embodiment, the video reproducer 243 mayreproduce, by control of the control unit 210, visual feedback (e.g., anoutput of the video source stored in the storage unit 275) by using avideo codec so as to correspond to the switch of the wireless connectionwith the external apparatus 300 and an output of the content to theexternal apparatus 300.

The multimedia unit 240 may include the audio reproducer 242 and thevideo reproducer 243 and may exclude the broadcasting receiver 241 so asto correspond to performance or a structure of the target apparatus 200.The audio reproducer 242 or the video reproducer 243 of the multimediaunit 240 may be included in the control unit 210.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the term “audio codec” may includeone or more audio codecs. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the term“video codec” may include one or more video codecs.

The camera 250 may include a first camera 251 of a front surface and asecond camera 252 of a rear surface, which capture a still image or amoving picture, according to control by the control unit 210. The camera250 may include the first camera 251 or the second camera 252. The firstcamera 251 or the second camera 252 may include an auxiliary lightsource (e.g., a flash 253) that provides an amount of light for thecapturing operation.

The control unit 210 may capture a 3D still image or a 3D moving pictureby using the first camera 251 of the front surface and an additionalcamera (e.g., a third camera (not shown)) that is positioned adjacent tothe first camera 251 (e.g., a distance between the first camera 251 andthe additional camera may be greater than about 30 mm and less thanabout 80 mm). The control unit 210 may capture a 3D still image or a 3Dmoving picture by using the second camera 252 of the rear surface and anadditional camera (e.g., a fourth camera (not shown)) that is positionedadjacent to the second camera 252 (e.g., a distance between the secondcamera 252 and the additional camera may be greater than about 30 mm andless than about 80 mm). The first and second cameras 251 and 252 maycapture a wide angle image, a telephoto image, and a macro image byusing an additional lens (not shown) that is detachable to an additionaladaptor (not shown).

The GPS 255 periodically receives a plurality of pieces of information(e.g., information about an accurate location and time of a GPSsatellite that is receivable by the target apparatus 200) from aplurality of GPS satellites orbiting Earth. The target apparatus 200 mayrecognize its location, a movement speed, or a time of the targetapparatus 200 by using the plurality of pieces of information receivedfrom the plurality of GPS satellites.

The I/O unit 260 may include at least one selected from one or morebuttons 261, a microphone 262, a speaker 263, a vibration motor 264, theconnector 265, a keypad 266, and an input pen 267.

Referring to FIG. 1, the one or more buttons 261 include a home button261 a, a menu button 261 b, and a back button 261 c that are positionedat a lower portion of the front surface. The one or more buttons 261 mayalso include a power/lock button (not shown) and one or more volumebuttons (not shown) that are positioned at a side surface (not shown).The one or more buttons 261 of the target apparatus 200 may include onlythe home button 261 a. The one or more buttons 261 of the targetapparatus 200 may be embodied as a physical button. The one or morebuttons 261 of the target apparatus 200 may also be embodied as a touchbutton at a bezel of an external side of the touchscreen 290. Inaddition, the one or more buttons 261 of the target apparatus 200 may bedisplayed as a text, an image, or an icon on the touchscreen 290.

The microphone 262 may receive a voice or a sound from an externalsource and may generate an electrical signal, according to control bythe control unit 210. The electrical signal generated by the microphone262 may be converted via an audio codec and may be stored in the storageunit 275 or may be output via the speaker 263. The microphone 262 may bepositioned at one or more places on the front surface, the side surface,and the rear surface of the target apparatus 200. Alternatively, themicrophone 262 may be positioned at one or more places only on the sidesurface of the target apparatus 200.

The speaker 263 may externally output, by control of the control unit210, sounds that correspond to various signals (e.g., a wireless signal,a broadcasting signal, an audio source, a video file, or imagecapturing) of the mobile communication unit 220, the sub-communicationunit 230, the multimedia unit 240, or the camera 250 by using an audiocodec.

The speaker 263 may output a sound (e.g., a touch manipulation soundthat corresponds to inputting a telephone number or an image-capturingbutton manipulation sound) that corresponds to a function performed bythe target apparatus 200. One or more speakers 263 may be positioned atthe front surface, the side surface, and/or the rear surface of thetarget apparatus 200. A plurality of speakers may be positioned at thefront surface of the target apparatus 200. A speaker may be positionedat each of the front surface and the rear surface of the targetapparatus 200. For example, the speaker 263 may be positioned at thefront surface of the target apparatus 200 and a plurality of speakers(not shown) may be positioned at the rear surface of the targetapparatus 200. Further, a plurality of speakers may be positioned at theside surface. The target apparatus 200 having an additional speaker (notshown) positioned at its side surface may provide, to a user, a soundeffect different from that of a portable apparatus (not shown) havingspeakers positioned at its front surface and rear surface.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the speaker 263 may reproduce, bycontrol of the control unit 210, acoustic feedback so as to correspondto the switch of the wireless connection with the external apparatus 300and an output of the content to the external apparatus 300.

The vibration motor 264 may convert, by control of the control unit 210,an electrical signal into a mechanical vibration. The vibration motor264 may include a linear vibration motor, a bar-type vibration motor, acoin-type vibration motor, or a piezoelectric element vibration motor.For example, when a voice call request is received from another portableapparatus (not shown), the vibration motor 264 of the target apparatus200 in a vibration mode may operate according to control by the controlunit 210. The target apparatus 200 may include one or more vibrationmotors 264. The vibration motor 264 may vibrate the target apparatus 200or may vibrate only a portion of the target apparatus 200.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the vibration motor 264 mayreproduce, by control of the control unit 210, a tactile feedback so asto correspond to the switch of the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 and the output of the content to the external apparatus300.

The connector 265 may be used as an interface for connecting the targetapparatus 200 to an external apparatus (not shown) or a power source(not shown). According to control by the control unit 210, the targetapparatus 200 may transmit data stored in the storage unit 275 to theexternal apparatus (not shown) via a wire cable connected to theconnector 265 or may receive data from the external apparatus (notshown). The target apparatus 200 may receive power from the power source(not shown) or may charge a battery (not shown) via a wire cableconnected to the connector 265. The target apparatus 200 may beconnected to an external accessory (e.g., a keyboard dock (not shown))via the connector 265.

The keypad 266 may receive, from a user, an input for controlling thetarget apparatus 200. The keypad 266 may include a physical keypad (notshown) that is arranged at the front surface of the target apparatus200, a virtual keypad (not shown) that is displayed on the touchscreen290, and a physical keypad (not shown) that is connectable in a wirelessor wired manner. However, the physical keypad (not shown) that isarranged at the front surface of the target apparatus 200 may beomitted, according to performance or a structure of the target apparatus200.

The input pen 267 may touch or select an object (e.g., a menu, a text,an image, a video, a diagram, an icon, and a shortcut icon) displayed ona home screen 291 of the touchscreen 290 of the target apparatus 200 orscreens (e.g., a memo screen, a notepad screen, a calendar screen, etc.)of writing/drawing applications. The input pen 267 may touch or selectcontent (e.g., a text file, an image file, an audio file, a video file,or a webpage) displayed on the touchscreen 290 of the target apparatus200 or the screens of the writing/drawing applications. The input pen267 may perform handwriting on the screen (e.g., the memo screen) of thewriting application or may perform drawing, painting, or sketching onthe screen (e.g., a canvas screen) of the drawing application displayedon the touchscreen 290 of the target apparatus 200.

The input pen 267 may input a text or the like by touching thetouchscreen 290 or a virtual keypad displayed on the touchscreen 290that is a capacitive-type touchscreen, a resistive-type touchscreen, oran electromagnetic resonance (EMR)-type touchscreen. The input pen 267may include a stylus pen or a haptic pen (not shown) having an embeddedvibration device (e.g., an actuator or a vibration motor) that vibrates.The input pen 267 may operate (e.g., vibrate) the vibration device,according to not only control information that is received by the targetapparatus 200 but also sensing information that is detected by a sensor(e.g., an acceleration sensor (not shown)) embedded in the input pen267.

When the input pen 267 is withdrawn from an insertion hole (not shown),the control unit 210 may execute a preset writing/drawing applicationand may display a screen (not shown) of the writing/drawing applicationon the touchscreen 290.

The input pen 267 may include a finger of the user. For example, drawingmay be input, by the finger of the user, to an application that isdisplayed on a capacitive-type touchscreen or a resistive-typetouchscreen.

In a case where writing or drawing is input, by the finger of the user,to the application that is displayed on the capacitive-type touchscreenor the resistive-type touchscreen, the control unit 210 may detect atouch by a finger by using the touchscreen 290 and the touchscreencontroller 295.

Shapes or structures of the insertion hole and the input pen 267 of thetarget apparatus 200 may be changed, according to performance or astructure of the target apparatus 200.

The sensor unit 270 may include one or more sensors that detect a statusof the target apparatus 200. For example, the sensor unit 270 mayinclude a proximate sensor 271 that detects whether the user approachesthe target apparatus 200, an illuminance sensor 272 that detects anamount of light around the target apparatus 200, and a gyroscope sensor273 that detects a direction of the target apparatus 200 by usingrotational inertia. The sensor unit 270 may include an accelerationsensor (not shown) that detects acceleration of three axes (e.g., anX-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis) that are applied to the target apparatus200, a gravity sensor (not shown) that detects a gravity actiondirection or an altimeter that detects an altitude by measuringatmospheric pressure.

The sensor unit 270 may measure motional acceleration and gravitationalacceleration of the target apparatus 200 by using the one or moresensors. The sensor unit 270 may further include a fingerprint sensor(not shown) that detects a fingerprint of a user, or a cardiac sensor(not shown) that detects a heartbeat of the user.

The one or more sensors included in the sensor unit 270 detect a statusof the target apparatus 200, generate an electrical signal correspondingto a detection result, and transmit the electrical signal to the controlunit 210. In addition, the one or more sensors included in the sensorunit 270 may be added or omitted, according to performance of the targetapparatus 200.

The storage unit 275 may store, by control of the control unit 210,signals or data that is input and output so as to correspond tooperations of the mobile communication unit 220, the sub-communicationunit 230, the multimedia unit 240, the camera 250, the GPS 255, the I/Ounit 260, the sensor unit 270, the touchscreen 290, and the touchscreencontroller 295. The storage unit 275 may store a control program for acontrol operation of the target apparatus 200 or the control unit 210,GUIs related to applications that are received from a manufacturer or anexternal source, images for providing the GUIs, user information,documents, databases, or related data.

The power supplier 280 may supply, by control of the control unit 210,power to the internal elements 220 through 275 of the target apparatus200. The power supplier 280 may supply, by control of the control unit210, power to the target apparatus 200. The power is received from anexternal power source (not shown) via a wire cable (not shown) connectedto the connector 265. The power supplier 280 may supply, by control ofthe control unit 210, power to one or more batteries (not shown) and maycharge the one or more batteries. The one or more batteries may bepositioned between the touchscreen 290 at the front surface and a coverover the rear surface.

When the one or more batteries of the target apparatus 200 are lithiumion batteries, the control unit 210 may protect the one or morebatteries from overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, or short-circuit,by using a protection circuit mode (PCM) circuit (not shown). When theone or more batteries of the target apparatus 200 are gel-state lithiumpolymer batteries having a viscosity higher than that of the lithium ionbatteries, the target apparatus 200 may include a PCM circuit that issimpler than the PCM circuit for the lithium ion batteries (. The PCMcircuit may be included in the power supplier 280 or may be embodied ina battery (not shown).

The power supplier 280 may wirelessly charge (e.g., by magneticresonance, electromagnetic waves, or magnetic induction) the one or morebatteries, according to control by the control unit 210.

The touchscreen 290 includes a touch panel (not shown) for receiving atouch input, and a display panel (not shown) for a screen display. Thetouchscreen 290 may provide, to the user, GUIs that correspond tovarious services (e.g., a voice call, a video call, data transmission,broadcasting reception, an image-capturing operation, video viewing,execution of an application, etc.). The touchscreen 290 transmits, tothe touchscreen controller 295, an analog signal that corresponds to asingle touch or multiple touches that are input via a home screen, alock screen, or a GUI. The touchscreen 290 may receive an input of thesingle touch or the multiple touches via a body part (e.g. a finger or athumb) of the user, or the input pen 267.

The display panel includes a plurality of pixels and displays an imageby using the pixels. For example, the display panel may include a liquidcrystal display (LCD) panel, an OLED panel, an LED panel, or the like.The display panel may display various operational statuses of the targetapparatus 200, and various images and a plurality of objects that occuraccording to executing an application or a service.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the term “touch” includes bothdirect and non-direct contacts between the body part of the user and thetouchscreen 290 or between the input pen 267 and the touchscreen 290.For example, the non-direct contact may include hovering the body partof the user or the input pen 267 a distance equal to or less than 50 nmfrom the touchscreen 290. A distance of the non-direct contact that isdetectable by the touchscreen 290 may be changed, according toperformance or a structure of the target apparatus 200.

The touchscreen 290 may be embodied as a resistive-type touchscreen, acapacitive-type touchscreen, an infrared-type touchscreen, or anacoustic wave-type touchscreen.

The touchscreen 290 may be embodied as an EMR-type touchscreen. TheEMR-type touchscreen may further include a separate EMR-type touch panel(not shown) so as to receive an input via an input pen (not shown)having a resonance circuit that resonates with an EMR-type loop coil.

The touchscreen controller 295 converts the analog signal, whichcorresponds to the single touch or the multiple touches received via thetouchscreen 290, into a digital signal and transmits the digital signalto the control unit 210. The control unit 210 may calculate coordinatesof X and Y-axes corresponding to a touch location on the touchscreen290, by using the digital signal received from the touchscreencontroller 295.

The control unit 210 may control the touchscreen 290 by using thedigital signal received from the touchscreen controller 295. Forexample, in response to the input touch, the control unit 210 maydifferently display a shortcut icon (e.g., an icon 293 a shown inFIG. 1) from another shortcut icon (not shown) that are displayed on thetouchscreen 290, or may execute an application (e.g., a video playerapplication) corresponding to a selected shortcut icon (e.g., the icon293 a shown in FIG. 1) and may display a screen of the application onthe touchscreen 290.

The touchscreen controller 295 may be arranged as one touchscreencontroller 295 or a plurality of touchscreen controllers 295. Thetouchscreen controller 295 may be included in the control unit 210 so asto correspond to performance or a structure of the target apparatus 200.

The touchscreen controller 295 converts an analog signal into a digitalsignal and transmits the digital signal to the control unit 210. Theanalog signal corresponds to a touch received via the EMR-typetouchscreen and is different from the analog signal that corresponds tothe signal touch or the multiple touches and is received via thetouchscreen 290. The control unit 210 may calculate X and Y coordinatescorresponding to a touch location on the EMR-type touchscreen, by usingthe digital signal received from the touchscreen controller 295. In theEMR-type touchscreen, an EMR-type touchscreen controller (not shown) maybe used.

While the target apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 1 has only one touchscreen,one or more exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto and the targetapparatus 200 may have a plurality of touchscreens. The plurality oftouchscreens may be respectively arranged in housings and may beconnected to each other by using hinges, or may be arranged in aflexible housing. Each of the plurality of touchscreens may include adisplay panel and a touch panel.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the host apparatus 100 (e.g., thedisplay apparatus) and the target apparatus 200 are different from eachother, but one of two same-type apparatuses (e.g., tablet apparatuses 1and 2) may operate as the host apparatus 100 and the other one mayoperate as the target apparatus 200.

At least one of the elements of the target apparatus 200 shown in FIG.2B may be removed or at least one element may be added, according toperformance or a structure of the target apparatus 200.

FIG. 2C illustrates a block diagram of the external apparatus 300,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the external apparatus 300 (e.g., a wireless audioapparatus) is connected to one of the host apparatus 100 and the targetapparatus 200 in a wireless manner (e.g., Bluetooth 331, radio frequencytransceiver RF transceiver, etc.) via a communication unit 330. Theexternal apparatus 300 may output audio received from one of the hostapparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200. The external apparatus 300may output audio streaming received from the host apparatus 100 or thetarget apparatus 200 that is connected in a wireless manner with theexternal apparatus 300.

The external apparatus 300 may include a control unit 310, thecommunication unit 330, a display unit 370, a speaker 375 (also,referred to as ‘embedded speaker 375), a storage unit 380, or a powerunit 390.

The control unit 310 includes a processor 311. The control unit 310 mayinclude the processor 311 and a ROM 312 that stores a control programfor controlling the external apparatus 300. The control unit 310 mayinclude the processor 311, the ROM 312, and a RAM 310 used to store asignal or data received from an external source of the externalapparatus 300 or used as a storage domain for various tasks that areperformed in the external apparatus 300. The control unit 310 mayinclude an audio codec module (not shown) and/or a video codec module(not shown).

The control unit 310 controls all operations of the external apparatus300 and a flow of signals between internal elements 330 through 380 ofthe external apparatus 300, and performs a data processing function. Thecontrol unit 310 controls power that is supplied from the power unit 390to the internal elements 330 through 380.

The control unit 310 may output the received audio via the embeddedspeaker 375. In addition, the control unit 310 may output the receivedaudio via an additional speaker (not shown) that is connected via thecommunication unit 330 or an I/O unit (not shown).

The control unit 310 may control the external apparatus 300 to beconnected to a second electronic apparatus and to output contentreceived from the second electronic apparatus; to receive a request forchanging reception of the content from the second electronic apparatusto reception of the content from a first electronic apparatus; totransmit a response to the request to the second electronic apparatus;and to be connected to the first electronic apparatus and to output thecontent received from the first electronic apparatus.

The control unit 310 may control the external apparatus 300 to beselectively connected to one of the first electronic apparatus and thesecond electronic apparatus, according to the output of the content.

The control unit 310 may control the external apparatus 300 to outputthe content by using at least one of the display unit 370 and thespeaker 375 so as to correspond to the content.

The communication unit 330 may be connected in a wireless manner withone of the host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200, according tocontrol by the control unit 310. The communication unit 330 may furtherinclude other short-range communication (e.g., NFC (not shown), BLE (notshown), etc.), in addition to the Bluetooth 331. The communication unit330 may receive, by control of the control unit 310, a remote adjustmentsignal (including a control signal) of a remote controller (not shown).The remote adjustment signal may be implemented as a Bluetooth-typeremote adjustment signal or a RF-type remote adjustment signal.

The control unit 310 may receive audio and/or video corresponding tovarious contents from one of the host apparatus 100 and the targetapparatus 200 connected via the communication unit 330. The control unit310 may be connected in a wireless manner with to another externalapparatus via the communication unit 330.

The display unit 370 may display, by control of the control unit 310,video information or text information (e.g., a music title, etc.)corresponding to the received content. For example, the display unit 370may include an LCD, an OLED, a plasma display panel (PDP), or a vacuumfluorescent display (VFD). Video information and/or text information mayvary according to the display techniques.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the display unit 370 may output, bycontrol of the control unit 310, a visual feedback so as to correspondto connection with one of the host apparatus 100 and the targetapparatus 200 or the output of the content.

The embedded speaker 375 outputs, by control of the control unit 310,audio corresponding to the received content. The embedded speaker 375may output the audio (e.g., a voice, music, a sound, etc.) received viathe communication unit 330. The embedded speaker 375 may be implementedas 1 channel, 2 channels, or 2.1 channels. In addition, the embeddedspeaker 375 may be implemented as, but is not limited to, 4 channels,4.1 channels, 5.1 channels, 6.1 channels, 7.1 channels, 9.1 channels, or11.2 channels.

The control unit 310 may up-mix the received audio (e.g., 2.0-channelaudio) and may output the up-mixed audio to 4 channel, 5 channel, 5.1channel, or 7.1 channel speakers (i.e., the embedded speaker 375 and theadditional speaker). Further, the control unit 310 may down-mix thereceived audio (e.g., a 7.1-channel audio) and may output the down-mixedaudio to 2 channel, 2.1 channel, or 5.1 channel speaker (i.e., theembedded speaker 375). The control unit 310 may output the receivedaudio, in consideration of the number of the speakers 375 and the numberof the additional speakers that correspond to the audio.

The control unit 310 may provide various audio output effects (e.g., aconcert hall effect, an orchestra hall effect, etc.) to a user,according to the number of the embedded speakers 375.

The embedded speaker 375 may output, by control of the control unit 310,audio stored in the storage unit 380.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the embedded speaker 375 mayoutput, by control of the control unit 310, acoustic feedback thatcorresponds to connection with one of the host apparatus 100 and thetarget apparatus 200 or the output of the content.

The storage unit 380 may store various data and a control program fordriving and controlling the external apparatus 300, according to controlby the control unit 310. The storage unit 380 may store input/outputsignals or data that correspond to driving the communication unit 330,the display unit 370, the embedded speaker 375, and the power unit 390.

The storage unit 380 may include a non-volatile memory, a volatilememory, a HDD, or a SSD.

The power unit 390 supplies, by control of the control unit 310, power,which is input from an external power source, to the internal elements330 through 380 of the external apparatus 300. The power unit 390 maysupply, by control of the control unit 310, power to the internalelements 330 through 380. The power is output from one or more batteries(not shown) arranged in the external apparatus 300.

At least one of the elements 330 through 380 of the external apparatus300 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C may be removed or at least one element maybe added thereto, according to performances of the external apparatus300. However, the positions of the elements 330 through 380 may bechanged to correspond to performance or a structure of the externalapparatus 300.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of outputtingcontent, the method performed by the host apparatus 100, the targetapparatus 200, and the external apparatus 300, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating the method ofoutputting content, the method performed by the host apparatus 100, thetarget apparatus 200, and the external apparatus 300, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate the method of outputting content, themethod performed by the host apparatus 100, the target apparatus 200,and the external apparatus 300, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In operation S301 of FIG. 3, the host apparatus 100 and the externalapparatus 300 are connected (operation S401).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 (e.g., a displayapparatus) may search for an adjacent electronic apparatus by using thecommunication unit 130. The external apparatus 300 may be selected by auser (e.g., by a user's touch, etc.) from a search list (not shown)corresponding to a search result displayed on a screen of the hostapparatus 100. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maycontrol the host apparatus 100 to be connected, by using thecommunication unit 130, in a wireless manner with the communication unit330 of the selected external apparatus 300. According to the user, thecontrol unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may select at least one ofvarious profiles (e.g., an advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP), ahands-free profile (HFP), etc.) that are supported by the externalapparatus 300. The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may beconnected in a wireless manner with the communication unit 130 of thehost apparatus 100 by using the communication unit 330.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may store apparatusinformation of the external apparatus 300 (hereinafter, referred to as“external apparatus information”) in the storage unit 180. The storedexternal apparatus information may include wireless connectioninformation (e.g., a service set identification (SSID), an internetprotocol (IP) address, a media access control address (MAC address), achannel number, a security key, etc.), the number of the externalapparatuses 300, a product name of the external apparatus 300, anidentifier of the external apparatus 300, a MAC address of the externalapparatus 300, a type of the external apparatus 300, a profile of theselected external apparatus 300, a communication method of the externalapparatus 300, or the like.

The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may store informationdefining a wirelessly-connected display apparatus as the host apparatus100 in the storage unit 380. Further, the control unit 310 of theexternal apparatus 300 may store apparatus information of the hostapparatus 100 (hereinafter, referred to as “host apparatus information”)in the storage unit 380. The stored host apparatus information mayinclude wireless connection information (e.g., an SSID, an IP address, aMAC address, a channel number, a security key, etc.), a product name ofthe host apparatus 100, an identifier of the host apparatus 100, an MACaddress of the host apparatus 100, a type of the host apparatus 100, aprofile of the selected host apparatus 100, a communication method ofthe host apparatus 100, or the like.

In operation S302 of FIG. 3, the host apparatus 100 outputs content,which is executed in an application, to the external apparatus 300(operation S402).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may output the contentreproduced in the application to the external apparatus 300 that isconnected with the host apparatus 100. According to the user or a presetcondition (e.g., to display a news channel at 10 a.m., etc.), thecontrol unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may execute the application.In the executed application, the content is reproduced (e.g., thecontent is displayed on a screen, is transmitted via a communicationunit, or is output via a speaker). Various contents may be reproduced inapplications according to types of the applications.

The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may output thecontent received via the communication unit 330. For example, when thereceived content is video, the control unit 310 of the externalapparatus 300 may output the content by using the display unit 370 andthe speaker 375. When the received content is audio, the control unit310 of the external apparatus 300 may output the content via the speaker375.

When a type of the content is a video file, the control unit 110 of thehost apparatus 100 may display a screen by using a first video playerapplication 500 (refer to FIG. 5A) and may output audio via the speaker176. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may output, via thecommunication unit 130, a video (including audio) or only the audioincluded in the video to the external apparatus 300.

When a type of the content is an audio file, the control unit 110 of thehost apparatus 100 may display a screen (e.g., when the audio fileincludes an image to be displayed) by using an audio player application(not shown), and may output audio via the speaker 176. The control unit110 of the host apparatus 100 may output, via the communication unit130, the audio (including the image) or audio to thewirelessly-connected external apparatus 300.

The executed application may include a word processor application, aspread sheet application, a contacts application, a calendarapplication, a memo application, an alarm application, an SNSapplication, a chatting application, a map application, a music playerapplication, or a video player application.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may store, in the storageunit 180, application information about a first application (e.g., afirst video player application) corresponding to the executed firstvideo player application 500. The stored application information mayinclude identification information (e.g., a product name, an identifier,a classification code, etc.) for identifying the first application,application execution state information (e.g., a reproduction positionof content, a current level of content (e.g., as in a game), etc.) at atransmission time of the application information, external apparatusinformation (e.g., the number of external apparatuses, identifiers ofthe external apparatuses, product names of the external apparatuses,types of the external apparatuses, etc.) about the external apparatusesthat interoperate with an application of the target apparatus 200, orthe like.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100according to the present exemplary embodiment may transmit, to theexternal apparatus 300, audio data included in a video file reproducedin the first video player application 500. The control unit 310 of theexternal apparatus 300 may output the received audio data via thespeaker 375. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may controlthe host apparatus 100 to output the video file reproduced in the firstvideo player application 500 via the display unit 170 and/or the audiooutput unit 175.

The host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200 are not connected ina wireless manner. However, the host apparatus 100 and the externalapparatus 300 are connected in a wireless manner with each other.

In operation S303 of FIG. 3, the application is executed in the targetapparatus 200 (operation S403).

Referring to FIG. 5A, a user performs a first touch 296 on the shortcuticon 293 a on a screen of the target apparatus 200 (e.g., a tabletapparatus). The shortcut icon 293 a corresponds to a second video playerapplication. The control unit 210 may detect the first touch 296 byusing the touchscreen 290 and the touchscreen controller 295. Thecontrol unit 210 may calculate a first touch position 296 a (e.g., X1and Y1 coordinates) corresponding to the first touch 296, by using anelectrical signal received from the touchscreen controller 295.

The control unit 210 may store first touch position informationcorresponding to the first touch position 296 a in the storage unit 275.The first touch position information may include a touch identifier forhistory management, a touched position, a touch detection time, or touchinformation (e.g., a touch pressure, a touch direction, touch duration,etc.).

The control unit 210 may detect first hovering (not shown) by using thetouchscreen 290 and the touchscreen controller 295. The control unit 210may calculate a first hovering position (not shown, e.g., X11 and Y11coordinates) corresponding to the first hovering, by using an electricalsignal received from the touchscreen controller 295.

The control unit 210 may store first hovering position informationcorresponding to the first hovering position in the storage unit 275.The stored first hovering position information may include a hoveringdetection position, a hovering detection time, or hovering information(e.g., a hovering height (h), a hovering direction, hovering duration,etc.).

Referring to FIG. 5B, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may execute a second video player application 501, according to thefirst touch 296. Folders (e.g., a video1 folder, a video2 folder, and amusic1 folder) storing various contents (e.g., video files) that areexecutable in the executed second video player application 501 aredisplayed. When the user selects content to be reproduced from onefolder, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may display thecontent on a window of the second video player application 501, and mayoutput audio of the content via the speaker 275.

In some exemplary embodiments, the second video player application 501may not reproduce the content or may reproduce the content.

When the second video player application 501 is executed in the targetapparatus 200, the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 arenot connected in a wireless manner with each other. The host apparatus100 and the external apparatus 300 are connected in a wireless mannerwith each other.

In operation S304 of FIG. 3, the host apparatus 100 and the targetapparatus 200 are connected (operation S404).

Referring to FIG. 5C, when the second video player application 501 isexecuted in the target apparatus 200, the control unit 210 of the targetapparatus 200 may search for an adjacent host apparatus by using themobile communication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230. Thehost apparatus 100 that is a connection target may be selected by a userfrom a search list (not shown) corresponding to a search resultdisplayed on a screen of the target apparatus 200. According to theselection by the user, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may control the target apparatus 200 to be connected in a wirelessmanner with the host apparatus 100, by using the mobile communicationunit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may store the apparatusinformation of the host apparatus 100 in the storage unit 275, accordingto the connection with the host apparatus 100. The stored apparatusinformation of the host apparatus 100 may include wireless connectioninformation (e.g., an SSID, an IP address, a MAC address, a channelnumber, a security key, etc.), a product name of the host apparatus 100,an identifier of the host apparatus 100, a MAC address of the hostapparatus 100, a type of the host apparatus 100, a profile of the hostapparatus 100, a communication method of the host apparatus 100, or thelike.

Similarly, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may search foran adjacent electronic apparatus by using the communication unit 130.The target apparatus 200 may be selected by a user from a search list(not shown) corresponding to a search result displayed on a screen ofthe host apparatus 100. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100may control the host apparatus 100 to be connected, by using thecommunication unit 130, in a wireless manner with the mobilecommunication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230 of theselected target apparatus 200.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may store apparatusinformation of the target apparatus 200 in the storage unit 180, so asto correspond to the connection with the target apparatus 200. Thestored apparatus information of the target apparatus 200 may includewireless connection information (e.g., an SSID, an IP address, a MACaddress, a channel number, a security key, etc.), a product name of thetarget apparatus 200, an identifier of the target apparatus 200, a MACaddress of the target apparatus 200, a type of the target apparatus 200,a profile of the target apparatus 200, a communication method of thetarget apparatus 200, or the like.

When the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connected,the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may transmit, to thehost apparatus 100, second application information corresponding to theexecuted second video player application 501 by using the mobilecommunication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230. When thetarget apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connected, thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may transmit, to the hostapparatus 100, second application information corresponding to theexecuted second video player application 501 by using the mobilecommunication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230 of theselected target apparatus 200, according to selection (e.g.,transmission of the second application information to the host apparatus100) by the user.

For example, the second application information may includeidentification information (e.g., a product name, an identifier, aclassification code, etc.) for identifying the second application (e.g.,the second video player application 501), application execution stateinformation (e.g., a reproduction position of content, a current levelof content (e.g., as in a game), etc.) at a transmission time of theapplication information, external apparatus information (e.g., thenumber of external apparatuses, identifiers of the external apparatuses,product names of the external apparatuses, types of the externalapparatuses, etc.) about the external apparatuses that interoperate withan application of the target apparatus 200, or the like.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may transmit at onetime a package of items (e.g., the identification information, theapplication execution state information, and the external apparatusinformation) included in the second application information to the hostapparatus 100, or may sequentially transmit the items to the hostapparatus 100 according to a determined order.

In operation S305 of FIG. 3, the external apparatus information istransmitted from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200(operation S405).

When the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connected,the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit, to thetarget apparatus 200 and by using the communication unit 130, theexternal apparatus information (e.g., stored in the storage unit 180 orreceived from the external apparatus 300) corresponding to the connectedexternal apparatus 300. When the target apparatus 200 and the hostapparatus 100 are connected, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus100 may transmit, to the target apparatus 200 and by using thecommunication unit 130, the external apparatus information (e.g., storedin the storage unit 180 or received from the external apparatus 300)corresponding to the connected external apparatus 300, according toselection (e.g., transmission of the external apparatus information tothe external apparatus 300) by the user. When application information isreceived from the target apparatus 200, the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may transmit, to the target apparatus 200 and by using thecommunication unit 130, the external apparatus information (e.g., storedin the storage unit 180 or received from the external apparatus 300)corresponding to the connected external apparatus 300.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit all of aplurality of pieces of external apparatus information stored in thestorage unit 180 to the target apparatus 200 or may selectively transmita part of each of the plurality of pieces of external apparatusinformation stored in the storage unit 180 to the target apparatus 200.

In operation S306 of FIG. 3, the target apparatus 200 requests the hostapparatus 100 to switch a wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 (operation S406).

When the application information is transmitted from the targetapparatus 200 to the host apparatus 100, the control unit 210 of thetarget apparatus 200 may request (e.g., by using accessory_req) the hostapparatus 100 to switch the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 that interoperates with the host apparatus 100. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, the external apparatus 300 may include atleast one accessory such as a home theater, a wireless sound-bar, or awireless headset.

In a case where the external apparatus information is received from thehost apparatus 100 so as to correspond to the transmission of theapplication information from the target apparatus 200 to the hostapparatus 100, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 mayrequest (e.g., by using accessory_req) the host apparatus 100 to switchthe wireless connection with the external apparatus 300 thatinteroperates with the host apparatus 100.

Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may transmit, to the host apparatus 100, a command (e.g., a controlpacket) corresponding to the switch of the wireless connection with theexternal apparatus 300. The control packet that is transmitted viawireless communication has a hierarchical structure (refer to FIG. 6).

Referring to FIG. 6, the control packet may be formed of 3 framesincluding a MAC header 601 corresponding to a receiver (or atransmitter) address and a length, a payload 602 corresponding to data,and a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) 603 corresponding to transmissionerror detection. The MAC header 601 may be formed of 5 frames includinga protocol data unit (PDU) sequence number 611, a length 612, a receiverID 613, a management message 614, and a header check sequence 615. Themanagement message 614 may be formed of 2 frames including a managementmessage type 621 and a management message payload 622. The managementmessage type 621 may be formed of one frame including a type 631. Themanagement message payload 622 may be formed of 2 frames including amessage name 632 and a message description 633.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the type field 631 may include atype1 631 a, a type2 631 b, a type3 631 c, etc. The message name field632 may include an accessory switch request message (i.e.,accessory_req) 632 a corresponding to a message (also, referred to as“external apparatus switch request message”) requesting to switch anaccessory from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200, anaccessory switch request response message (i.e., accessory_res) 632 bcorresponding to a response message (also, referred to as “responsemessage to an external apparatus switch request”) to the request withrespect to switching the accessory from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200, a compatibility response (i.e., compatible_res)632 c corresponding to a compatible application message, or the like. Atleast one message name in the message name field 632 may be added,deleted, or changed in one or more exemplary embodiments.

The accessory switch request message 632 a may have a format shown inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Syntax Size(bit) Notes Accessory_Request_Format( ) { —Management message type=n 4 Target_Device_ID 6 Media info 8 0000: mediaplayer1 0001: video player1 0010: video player2 0011: media player20100: audio player1 • • • Reserved 1 } —

Here, a management message type field (i.e., Management message type)may indicate “1” corresponding to the accessory switch request message632 a (e.g., accessory_req). A target apparatus identifier field (i.e.,Target_Device_ID) may indicate an identifier for identifying the targetapparatus 200 from among various electronic apparatuses. A mediainformation field (i.e., Media info) may indicate an application that isexecuted in the target apparatus 200. For example, when the second videoplayer application 501 is executed in the target apparatus 200, themedia information field may indicate “0010”. The media information fieldmay indicate an application that is installed in the target apparatus200. For example, if a first media player application, a first videoplayer application, a second video player application, a second mediaplayer application, and a first audio player application are installedin the target apparatus 200, the media information field may indicate“0000”, “0001”, “0010”, “0011”, and “0100”. Further, the mediainformation field may indicate an application capable of executingcontent (e.g., a video) in the target apparatus 200. For example, whenan application of the target apparatus 200 that supports a video is thefirst media player application, the first video player application, thesecond video player application, the second media player application,and the first audio player application, the media information field mayindicate “0000”, “0001”, “0010”, “0011”, and “0100”.

The accessory switch request message 632 a may include a part of theexternal apparatus information received from the host apparatus 100. Thepart of the external apparatus information received from the hostapparatus 100 may include an identifier of an external apparatus, aproduct name of the external apparatus, or connection information of theexternal apparatus that corresponds to the switching of the accessory.

The accessory switch request message 632 a may be stored in the storageunit 275, according to control by the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 mayreceive the accessory switch request message 632 a from an externalsource (e.g., a separate server (not shown)) and may store it in thestorage unit 275.

When the second application information is transmitted from the targetapparatus 200 to the host apparatus 100, the control unit 210 of thetarget apparatus 200 may request (by using an accessory switch requestmessage) the host apparatus 100 to switch, from the host apparatus 100to the target apparatus 200, a wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 that interoperates with the host apparatus 100. When theexternal apparatus information is received from the host apparatus 100so as to correspond to transmission of the second applicationinformation from the target apparatus 200 to the host apparatus 100, thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may request (by using theaccessory switch request message) the host apparatus 100 to switch, fromthe host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200, the wirelessconnection with the external apparatus 300 that interoperates with thehost apparatus 100.

When the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connectedto each other, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 maytransmit at least one of the second application information and mediainformation of the accessory switch request message to the hostapparatus 100. For example, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus200 may transmit only one of the second application information and themedia information of the accessory switch request message to the hostapparatus 100. Alternatively, the control unit 210 of the targetapparatus 200 may transmit all of the second application information andthe media information of the accessory switch request message to thehost apparatus 100.

When the host apparatus 100 receives all of the second applicationinformation and the media information of the accessory switch requestmessage, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may selectivelyuse the second application information or the media information of theaccessory switch request message.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may store atransmission history of the accessory switch request message in thestorage unit 275. The transmission history of the accessory switchrequest message that is stored in the storage unit 275 may include anidentifier, a transmission time, apparatus information of a receiver(e.g., the host apparatus 100), etc., of the accessory switch requestmessage for a history management.

When the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connectedto each other, the host apparatus 100 is also connected in a wirelessmanner with each of the target apparatus 200 and the external apparatus300. Here, the target apparatus 200 is not connected in a wirelessmanner with the external apparatus 300.

In operation S307 of FIG. 3, application compatibility is analyzed(operation S407).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 analyzes the applicationcompatibility by using the accessory switch request message. The controlunit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may compare compatibility between thefirst video player application 500 executed in the host apparatus 100and the second video player application 501 set in the media informationof the accessory switch request message. The compatibility indicateswhether content that is executed in the first video player application500 is executable in the second video player application 501 of thetarget apparatus 200. In addition, compatibility may also indicate whatthe content played or reproduced in a first application may bereproduced or played by a second application.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine theapplication compatibility by determining whether a product name of thefirst video player application 500 is included in media information ofthe accessory switch request message 632 received from the targetapparatus 200. For example, if the media information of the accessoryswitch request message 632 includes the first video player application500, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine thefirst video player application 500 as “compatible”. If the mediainformation of the accessory switch request message 632 does not includethe first video player application 500, the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may determine the first video player application 500 as“incompatible”.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may previously store, inthe storage unit 180, host apparatus media information corresponding tothe media information of the accessory switch request message 632received from the target apparatus 200. The host apparatus mediainformation may be a list of applications that have compatibilitycorresponding to content (e.g., a video, an audio, a web, etc.).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine theapplication compatibility by determining whether the second video playerapplication 501 is included in the host apparatus media information. Thesecond video player application 501 is included in the media informationof the accessory switch request message 632 received from the targetapparatus 200. For example, if the second video player application 501is included in the host apparatus media information, the control unit110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine the second video playerapplication 501 as “compatible”. If the second video player application501 is not included in the host apparatus media information, the controlunit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine the second video playerapplication 501 as “incompatible”.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine theapplication compatibility by determining whether the second applicationinformation received from the target apparatus 200 is included in thehost apparatus media information. For example, if the host apparatusmedia information includes the second application information (e.g., anidentifier, a product name, a classification code, etc. of the secondapplication), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maydetermine the second video player application 501 as “compatible”. Ifthe host apparatus media information does not include the secondapplication information, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100may determine the second video player application 501 as “incompatible”.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine theapplication compatibility by determining whether the second video playerapplication 501 is same as the first video player application 500executed in the host apparatus 100. The second video player application501 is included in the media information of the accessory switch requestmessage 632 received from the target apparatus 200. For example, if thefirst video player application 500 and the second video playerapplication 501 are the same, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus100 may determine the second video player application 501 as“compatible”. If the first video player application 500 and the secondvideo player application 501 are different from each other, the controlunit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine the second video playerapplication 501 as “incompatible”.

In the analysis with respect to the compatibility between the firstvideo player application 500 of the host apparatus 100 and the secondvideo player application 501 of the target apparatus 200, the controlunit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine whether the secondvideo player application 501 of the target apparatus 200 has thecompatibility, by using extensions (e.g., avi, mkv, wmv, mp4, etc.) ofcontents or by using codecs (e.g., mpeg, mpg, divx, xvid, h.264, etc.)supported by the first video player application 500. For example,content that is reproduced in the first video player application 500 ofthe host apparatus 100 may not be reproduced due to its video codec thatis not supported by the compatible second video player application 501of the target apparatus 200. In this regard, the control unit 110 of thehost apparatus 100 may analyze the application compatibility, inconsideration of the example case. For example, if at least one of codecof the first video player application 500 of the host apparatus 100 andextension of content is compatible with the second video playerapplication 501 of the target apparatus 200, the control unit 110 of thehost apparatus 100 may determine the second video player application 501as “compatible”. If all of codec of the first video player application500 of the host apparatus 100 and extension of content is not compatiblewith the second video player application 501 of the target apparatus200, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine thesecond video player application 501 as “incompatible”.

When the host apparatus 100 analyzes the application compatibilitybetween the first video player application 500 and the second videoplayer application 501 of the target apparatus 200, the control unit 110of the host apparatus 100 may determine whether the second video playerapplication 501 of the target apparatus 200 has the compatibility, byusing a screen size of the host apparatus 100, resolution of content anda screen size of the target apparatus 200, or resolution of content thatis supported by the second video player application 501. For example, ifthe screen size of the host apparatus 100, the resolution of the contentand the screen size of the target apparatus 200, or the resolution ofthe content that is supported by the second video player application 501are compatible with each other, the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may determine the second video player application 501 as“compatible”. If the screen size of the host apparatus 100, theresolution of the content and the screen size of the target apparatus200, or the resolution of the content that is supported by the secondvideo player application 501 are not compatible with each other, thecontrol unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may determine the secondvideo player application 501 as “incompatible”.

When an application that is a compatibility comparison target object isnot a video player application but is another application (e.g., anaudio player application (not shown)), the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may determine compatibility of the audio playerapplication by using extensions (e.g., mp3, way, etc.) of content orcodecs (e.g., ac3, dts, flac, wma, etc.) supported by the audio playerapplication.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may perform acompatibility comparison not only on the video player application andthe audio player application, but also may perform a compatibilitycomparison on other applications.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may store compatibilitycomparison information in the storage unit 180. The stored compatibilitycomparison information may include a compatibility comparison identifierfor a history management, application information related to thecompatibility comparison target object, a position of the mediainformation, a comparison time, a compatibility comparison result (e.g.,“compatible” and “incompatible”), or the like.

When the host apparatus 100 performs the compatibility comparison, thehost apparatus 100 is connected in a wireless manner with each of thetarget apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300. Here, the targetapparatus 200 is not connected in a wireless manner with the externalapparatus 300.

In operation S308 of FIG. 3, the host apparatus 100 determines to switcha wireless connection with the external apparatus 300 (operation S408).In addition, the host apparatus may determine whether to switch thewireless connection based on other parameters such as securityinformation, license information, etc.

In correspondence to the compatibility comparison result (e.g.,determined as “compatible”), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus100 may determine to switch the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200.The external apparatus 300 interoperates with the host apparatus 100. Byusing the stored compatibility comparison information (e.g., determinedas “compatible”), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maydetermine to switch the wireless connection with the external apparatus300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200. Theexternal apparatus 300 interoperates with the host apparatus 100. Incorrespondence to the compatibility comparison result (e.g., determinedas “incompatible”), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maydetermine to switch the wireless connection with the external apparatus300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200. Theexternal apparatus 300 then interoperates with the host apparatus 100.

When the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 determines“incompatibility” according to the compatibility comparison result, thecontrol unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit, to the targetapparatus 200, substitution information by which the target apparatus200 can execute (or download) another video player application thatsubstitutes for the second video player application 501.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may store, in the storageunit 180, switch determination information with respect to the externalapparatus 300. The stored switch determination information with respectto the external apparatus 300 may include a switch determinationidentifier for a history management with respect to the externalapparatus 300, information about the external apparatus 300 that is aswitch target, an identifier of the host apparatus 100, an identifier ofthe target apparatus 200, a switch determination time with respect tothe external apparatus 300, the compatibility comparison result (e.g.,determined as “compatible” or “incompatible”), or the like.

When the host apparatus 100 determines to switch the wireless connectionwith the external apparatus 300, the host apparatus 100 is connected ina wireless manner with each of the target apparatus 200 and the externalapparatus 300. Here, the target apparatus 200 is not connected in awireless manner with the external apparatus 300.

In operation S309 of FIG. 3, the host apparatus 100 requests theexternal apparatus 300 for a host apparatus change, and receives aresponse thereto from the external apparatus 300 (operation S409).

When the host apparatus 100 determines to switch the wireless connectionwith the external apparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 mayrequest the external apparatus 300 that is the switch target for thehost apparatus change. For example, the host apparatus 100 may requestthe external apparatus 300 to change the host apparatus 100, which is acurrent host apparatus, to the target apparatus 200 that is another hostapparatus. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmitnot only a request for the host apparatus change but may also transmitapparatus information of the target apparatus 200 (hereinafter, referredto as “target apparatus information”) that is stored in the storage unit180 to the external apparatus 300.

The target apparatus information stored in the host apparatus 100 mayinclude wireless connection information (e.g., an SSID, an IP address, aMAC address, a channel number, a security key, etc.), a product name ofthe target apparatus 200, an identifier of the target apparatus 200, anMAC address of the target apparatus 200, a type of the target apparatus200, a profile of the target apparatus 200, a communication method ofthe target apparatus 200, or the like. The control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may transmit not only the request for the host apparatuschange but may also transmit a part (e.g., recognizable or settable thetarget apparatus 200 as a new host apparatus) of the target apparatusinformation stored in the storage unit 180 to the external apparatus300.

The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may receive therequest for the host apparatus change via the communication unit 330. Incorrespondence to the request for the host apparatus change, the controlunit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may set so that the preset hostapparatus 100 can be changed to the new host apparatus that is thetarget apparatus 200. In response to the request for the host apparatuschange, the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 maytemporarily (or for a short period) store, in the storage unit 380, achange from the preset host apparatus 100 to the new host apparatus 200.

When the target apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300 areconnected in a wireless manner with each other (or via a wireless linkset-up), the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may set (ormay change) the temporarily-stored new host apparatus as the targetapparatus 200. When the target apparatus 200 and the external apparatus300 attempt to perform wireless connection (or the wireless linkset-up), the external apparatus 300 may first search for the targetapparatus 200 by using the stored target apparatus information.

The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may transmit aresponse to the request for the host apparatus change via thecommunication unit 330. The control unit 310 of the external apparatus300 may transmit, via the communication unit 330, a response about oneof “the host apparatus change is accepted” and “the host apparatuschange is not accepted” to the host apparatus 100. The control unit 310of the external apparatus 300 may transmit, via the communication unit330, a response about one of “the host apparatus change is completed”,“the host apparatus change is to be performed”, and “the host apparatuschange has an error” to the host apparatus 100.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may receive, from theexternal apparatus 300, the response to the request for the hostapparatus change (e.g., “the host apparatus change is accepted”, etc.)by using the communication unit 130. The control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may store the received response to the request for thehost apparatus change in the storage unit 180.

When the host apparatus 100 requests the external apparatus 300 for thehost apparatus change, and receives the response thereto from theexternal apparatus 300, the host apparatus 100 is connected in awireless manner with each of the target apparatus 200 and the externalapparatus 300. Here, the target apparatus 200 is not connected in awireless manner with the external apparatus 300.

In operation S310 of FIG. 3, a response to an external apparatus switchrequest is transmitted from the host apparatus 100 to the targetapparatus 200 (operation S410).

In correspondence to the compatibility analysis and the response, whichis received from the external apparatus 300, to the request for the hostapparatus change, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maytransmit, to the target apparatus 200, the response to the externalapparatus switch request (e.g., the accessory switch request responsemessage 632 b). When the compatibility analysis result by the hostapparatus 100 indicates “compatible” and the host apparatus 100 receivesthe response to the request for the host apparatus change from theexternal apparatus 300, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100may transmit, to the target apparatus 200, the response to the externalapparatus switch request received from the target apparatus 200.

When the compatibility analysis result by the host apparatus 100indicates “incompatible” or the host apparatus 100 does not receive theresponse to the request for the host apparatus change from the externalapparatus 300, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may nottransmit, to the target apparatus 200, the response to the externalapparatus switch request received from the target apparatus 200.

The accessory switch request response message 632 b may have a formatshown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Syntax Size(bit) Notes Accessory_Response_Format( ) { —Management message type=n 4 Host_Device_ID 6 Accessory_mapping_ID 80000: Microphone 0001: Headphone 0010: Music instrument 0011: Speaker0100: Headset • • • Target_Device_ID 6 Access_authority_info 2 00: Yes11: No Web_source_info 2 00: Yes 11: No Reserved 1 } —

Here, a management message type field (i.e., Management message type)may indicate “2” corresponding to the accessory switch request responsemessage 632 b (e.g., accessory_res). A host apparatus identifier field(i.e., host_device_ID) may indicate an identifier of the host apparatus100 that interoperates with the external apparatus 300 and receives theexternal apparatus switch request from the target apparatus 200. Anexternal apparatus mapping identifier field (i.e., accessory_mapping_ID)may indicate an identifier of the external apparatus 300 thatinteroperates with the host apparatus 100. For example, a microphonefield may be “0000”, a headphone field may be “0001”, a music instrumentfield may be “0010”, a speaker field may be “0011”, or a headset fieldmay be “0100”. In addition, the number of the external apparatus mappingidentifiers may be added, deleted, or changed in one or more exemplaryembodiments.

A target apparatus identifier field (i.e., target_device_ID) mayindicate an identifier of the target apparatus 200 that requested thehost apparatus 100 to switch the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200.An access authority information field (i.e., Access_authority_info) mayindicate an access authority (e.g., access allowed or access denied) ofthe target apparatus 200 with respect to the external apparatus 300. Theaccess authority information field may indicate all of the accessauthority (e.g., access allowed or access denied) of the targetapparatus 200 with respect to the external apparatus 300 and an accessauthority (e.g., access allowed or access denied) of the host apparatus100 with respect to content.

A web source information field (i.e., Web_source_info) may indicatewhether a web server address (or a separate storage device location) isrequired. For example, when compatibility between the second videoplayer application 501 of the target apparatus 200 and the first videoplayer application 500 is determined, the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may define the web source information field as “00” so asto correspond to a web server address (or a separate storage devicelocation) where the first video player application 500 or another videoplayer application (not shown) that is compatible with the first videoplayer application 500 is stored. If the web source information field isset as “00”, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may add theweb server address (the separate storage device location or substitutioninformation, e.g., www.samsung.com/server1) to an additional field (notshown) of the accessory switch request response message 632 b.

The accessory switch request response message 632 b may be stored in thestorage unit 275, according to control by the control unit 110 of thehost apparatus 100. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 mayreceive the accessory switch request response message 632 b from anexternal source (a separate server (not shown)) and may store theaccessory switch request response message 632 b in the storage unit 275.

In another exemplary embodiment, the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may transmit, to the target apparatus 200, the response tothe external apparatus switch request (e.g., the accessory switchrequest response message 632 b and the compatible application message632 c). When the compatibility analysis result indicates “incompatible”and the host apparatus 100 receives the response to the request for thehost apparatus change from the external apparatus 300, the control unit110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit, to the target apparatus 200,the response to the external apparatus switch request received from thetarget apparatus 200 and the compatible application message 632 c.

When the compatibility analysis result indicates “compatible” and thehost apparatus 100 receives the response to the request for the hostapparatus change from the external apparatus 300, the control unit 110of the host apparatus 100 may transmit, to the target apparatus 200, theresponse to the external apparatus switch request received from thetarget apparatus 200, and may not transmit the compatible applicationmessage 632 c to the target apparatus 200.

In correspondence to the compatibility analysis result (e.g.,“compatible” or “incompatible”), the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may transmit another accessory switch request responsemessage to the target apparatus 200. For example, a field for theaccessory switch request response message 632 b may vary according tothe compatibility analysis result.

The compatible application message 632 c may have a format shown inTable 3.

TABLE 3 Syntax Size(bit) Notes Accessory_Response_Format( ) { —Management message type=n 4 Compatible_info 8 0000: media player1 0001:video player1 0010: video player2 0011: video player3 0100: videoplayer4 • • • Compatible_format 8 0000: avi 0001: mkv 0010: mp4 0011:asf 0100: wma • • • Web_source_info 2 00: Yes 11: No Host_Device_ID 6Target_Device_ID 6 Accessory_mapping_ID 6 } —

Here, a management message type field (i.e., Management message type)may indicate “3” corresponding to a type of the compatible applicationmessage 632 c (e.g., compatible_res). A compatible information field(i.e., Compatible_info) may indicate an application capable of executingcontent that is executed in the host apparatus 100. The applicationcapable of executing the content that is executed in the host apparatus100 may include an application installed in the target apparatus 200 andan application (e.g., a video player3 and a video player4) uninstalledin the target apparatus 200. A compatible formation field (i.e.,Compatible_format) may indicate a format of compatible content. A websource information field (i.e., Web_source_info) may indicate whether aweb server address (or a separate storage device location) is required.

A host device identifier field (i.e., host_device_ID) may indicate anidentifier of the host apparatus 100 that is initially interoperateswith the external apparatus 300 and receives the external apparatusswitch request from the target apparatus 200.

A target apparatus identifier field (i.e., target_device_ID) mayindicate an identifier of the target apparatus 200 that requested thehost apparatus 100 to switch the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200.An external apparatus mapping identifier field (i.e.,appessory_mapping_ID) may indicate an identifier of the externalapparatus 300 that interoperates with the host apparatus 100.

The compatible application message 632 c may be stored in the storageunit 275, according to control by the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 mayreceive the compatible application message 632 c from an external source(a separate server (not shown)) and may store the compatible applicationmessage 632 c in the storage unit 275.

When the host apparatus 100 transmits the response to the externalapparatus switch request to the external apparatus 300, the hostapparatus 100 is connected in a wireless manner with each of the targetapparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300. The target apparatus 200is not connected in a wireless manner with the external apparatus 300.

In operation S311 of FIG. 3, the target apparatus 200 determines anaccess authority (operation S411).

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may receive, from thehost apparatus 100, the response to the external apparatus switchrequest (e.g., the accessory switch request response message 632 b) byusing the mobile communication unit 220 and/or the sub-communicationunit 230.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may determine thesecond video player application 501 as compatible, in correspondence toreception of the accessory switch request response message 632 b. Thecompatible second video player application 501 may execute, by controlof the control unit 210, content that is reproduced in the first videoplayer application 500. The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may determine whether to reproduce, via the second video playerapplication 501, the content that is reproduced in the first videoplayer application 500, by using the compatible information field of thecompatible application message 632 c.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may determine an accessauthority with respect to the external apparatus 300, by using theaccess authority information field of the accessory switch requestresponse message 632 b.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may store the accessoryswitch request response message 632 b in the storage unit 275. Thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may receive the accessoryswitch request response message 632 b from an external source (e.g., aseparate server (not shown) and may store the accessory switch requestresponse message 632 b in the storage unit 275.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may receive theresponse to the external apparatus switch request (e.g., the accessoryswitch request response message 632 b and the compatible applicationmessage 632 c) by using the mobile communication unit 220 and/or thesub-communication unit 230. The control unit 210 of the target apparatus200 may determine an access authority with respect to the externalapparatus 300 and a content access authority with respect to the hostapparatus 100, by using the access authority information field of theaccessory switch request response message 632 b.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may store the accessoryswitch request response message 632 b and the compatible applicationmessage 632 c in the storage unit 275. The control unit 210 of thetarget apparatus 200 may receive the accessory switch request responsemessage 632 b and the compatible application message 632 c from anexternal source (e.g., a separate server (not shown) and may store theaccessory switch request response message 632 b and the compatibleapplication message 632 c in the storage unit 275.

When the target apparatus 200 determines the access authority, the hostapparatus 100 is connected in a wireless manner with each of the targetapparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300. The target apparatus 200is not connected in a wireless manner with the external apparatus 300.

In operation S312 of FIG. 3, the target apparatus 200 and the externalapparatus 300 are connected with each other (operation S412).

Referring to FIG. 5D, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may search for the external apparatus 300 by using the accessory switchrequest response message 632 b received via the mobile communicationunit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230. The control unit 210 ofthe target apparatus 200 may search for the adjacent external apparatus300 by using an external apparatus mapping identifier. The control unit210 of the target apparatus 200 may search for the external apparatus300 by using pre-stored external apparatus information. The control unit210 of the target apparatus 200 may be connected to the externalapparatus 300 by using the external apparatus mapping identifier and theexternal apparatus information. The external apparatus 300 that is aconnection target may be selected, by a user, from a search list (notshown) corresponding to a search result displayed on a screen of thetarget apparatus 200, and may be connected with the target apparatus200.

When the target apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300 areconnected with each other, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus200 may transmit a notice about completion of the connection between thetarget apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300 to the hostapparatus 100.

In operation S312 of FIG. 3, the connection between the target apparatus200 and the external apparatus 300 is substantially similar (e.g., thetarget apparatus 200 is a changed host apparatus, and the connection isperformed by using the stored external apparatus information) to theconnection between the host apparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300in operation S301 of FIG. 3, thus, redundant descriptions thereof areomitted here.

When the target apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300 areconnected, the host apparatus 100 is connected in a wireless manner withthe target apparatus 200. The target apparatus 200 is connected in awireless manner with each of the host apparatus 100 and the externalapparatus 300.

In operation S313 of FIG. 3, content is transmitted from the hostapparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200 (operation S413).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit the content,which is reproduced in the first video player application 500, to thetarget apparatus 200 via the communication unit 130.

After the host apparatus 100 is connected with the target apparatus 200or after the target apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 300 areconnected, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmitthe content to the target apparatus 200. When the host apparatus 100 isconnected with the target apparatus 200, the control unit 110 of thehost apparatus 100 may transmit at any time the content to the targetapparatus 200. When the host apparatus 100 is connected with the targetapparatus 200, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maytransmit at any time the content to the target apparatus 200, inresponse to a content transmission request (not shown) from the targetapparatus 200.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit not only thecontent but also first application information (e.g., a first videoplayer application) stored in the storage unit 180 to the targetapparatus 200. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maytransmit not only the content but also a part of the first applicationinformation (e.g., a first video player application) stored in thestorage unit 180 to the target apparatus 200. The transmitted part ofthe first application information may include application executionstate information (e.g., a reproduction position of content, a currentlevel of content (e.g., a game), etc.) that corresponds to atransmission time of the first application information.

When the content is transmitted from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200, the host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus200 are connected in a wireless manner with each other. The targetapparatus 200 is connected in a wireless manner with each of the hostapparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300.

In operation S314 of FIG. 3, the content is output from the targetapparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300 (operation S414).

Referring to FIG. 5D, when the content is received from the hostapparatus 100, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 mayreproduce the content in the second video player application 501. Thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may seamlessly reproducethe content in the second video player application 501 by using thefirst application information. The control unit 210 of the targetapparatus 200 may store the content and the first applicationinformation in the storage unit 275.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may provide a user witha feedback corresponding to the content execution (e.g., an output ofthe content from the target apparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300)in the second video player application 501. The feedback provided by thetarget apparatus 200 is one of a visual feedback, an acoustic feedback,and a tactile feedback. The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may provide the user with one of the visual feedback, the acousticfeedback, and the tactile feedback or a combination of the visualfeedback, the acoustic feedback, and the tactile feedback.

The visual feedback may be displayed as a visual effect (e.g., aseparate image or an animation effect such as a fade applied to theseparate image) corresponding to the content execution (e.g., the outputof the content from the target apparatus 200 to the external apparatus300) in the second video player application 501. The visual effectdiffers from the content displayed in the second video playerapplication 501. The acoustic feedback may be output, via the speaker263, as a sound corresponding to the content execution (e.g., the outputof the content from the target apparatus 200 to the external apparatus300) in the second video player application 501. The tactile feedbackmay be output, via the vibration motor 264, as a vibration correspondingto the content execution (e.g., the output of the content from thetarget apparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300) in the second videoplayer application 501.

In a configuration setting (not shown) of the target apparatus 200, theuser may select and/or may change the feedback (e.g., at least one ofthe visual feedback, the acoustic feedback, and the tactile feedback)corresponding to the content execution (e.g., the output of the contentfrom the target apparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300) in thesecond video player application 501.

The user may input and/or may change a feedback provision time (e.g.,700 msec, changeable) during which at least one feedback is provided tothe user.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may output, to theexternal apparatus 300, the content that is reproduced in the secondvideo player application 501. The control unit 310 of the externalapparatus 300 may output the content via at least one of the displayunit 370 and the speaker 375. For example, when the content is video,the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may output thecontent via the display unit 370 and the speaker 375. When the contentis audio, the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may outputthe content via the speaker 375.

The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may provide the userwith a feedback corresponding to the output of the content. The controlunit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may provide the user with thefeedback by using one or more elements (e.g., the display unit 370 thatcorresponds to a visual feedback, the speaker 375 that corresponds to anacoustic feedback, and/or (a vibration motor (not shown) thatcorresponds to a tactile feedback) of the external apparatus 300.

The feedback provided by the external apparatus 300 is substantiallysimilar to the feedback provided by the target apparatus 200, thus,redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

When the target apparatus 200 outputs the content to the externalapparatus 300, the host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200 areconnected in a wireless manner with each other. The target apparatus 200is connected in a wireless manner with each of the host apparatus 100and the external apparatus 300.

When the content of the target apparatus 200 is output to the externalapparatus 300, the method of outputting content, the method performed bythe host apparatus 100, the target apparatus 200, and the externalapparatus 300, is ended.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of outputtingcontent, the method performed by the host apparatus 100, the targetapparatus 200, and a plurality of external apparatuses, according toanother exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating the method ofoutputting content, the method performed by the host apparatus 100, thetarget apparatus 200, and the plurality of external apparatuses,according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 9A through 9D illustrate the method of outputting content, themethod performed by the host apparatus 100, the target apparatus 200,and the plurality of external apparatuses, according to the exemplaryembodiment.

In operation S701 of FIG. 7, the host apparatus 100 and the plurality ofexternal apparatuses are connected to each other (operation S801).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 (e.g., a displayapparatus) may search for adjacent electronic apparatuses by using thecommunication unit 130. The plurality of external apparatuses (e.g., theexternal apparatus 300 (also referred to as the external apparatus1 300)and an external apparatus2 301) may be selected by a user (e.g., auser's touch, etc.) from a search list (not shown) corresponding to asearch result displayed on a screen of the host apparatus 100. Theexternal apparatus1 300 and the external apparatus2 301 may be sameapparatuses (e.g., a headphone1 and a headphone) or differentapparatuses (e.g., the headphone1 and a sound bar). However, the typesof the external apparatuses are not limited thereto. The externalapparatus1 300 and the external apparatus2 301 may have substantiallysimilar elements 310 through 390. The control unit 310 of the externalapparatus1 300 may be different from a control unit 310 a (not shown) ofthe external apparatus2 301. The difference may also be applied to otherelements. When the external apparatus1 300 is a headphone, the externalapparatus1 300 may include only the speaker 375, without the displayunit 370. When the external apparatus2 301 is a sound bar, the externalapparatus2 301 may include the display unit 370 and the speaker 375.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may be connected in awireless manner with the communication unit 330 of the externalapparatus1 300 and a communication unit 330 a (not shown) of theexternal apparatus2 301 by using the communication unit 130. Accordingto the user, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may selectat least one of various profiles (e.g., A2DP, HFP, etc.) that aresupported by the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301. Thecontrol units 310 and 310 a of the plurality of external apparatuses 300and 301 may be connected in a wireless manner with the communicationunit 130 of the host apparatus 100 by using the communication units 330and 330 a, respectively.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may store apparatusinformation of each of the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301(hereinafter, referred to as “a plurality of pieces of externalapparatus information” or “each external apparatus information”) in thestorage unit 180. The each stored external apparatus information mayinclude wireless connection information (e.g., SSID, an IP address, anMAC address, a channel number, a security key, etc.), the number of theplurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, a product name of each ofthe plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, an identifier of eachof the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, an MAC address ofeach of the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, a type ofeach of the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, a profile ofeach of the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, acommunication method of each of the plurality of external apparatuses300 and 301, or the like.

The control units 310 and 310 a of the plurality of external apparatuses300 and 301 may store information defining a wirelessly-connecteddisplay apparatus as the host apparatus 100 in the storage unit 380 anda storage unit 380 a (not shown), respectively. The control units 310and 310 a of the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301 may storeapparatus information of the host apparatus 100 (hereinafter, referredto as “host apparatus information”) in their storage units 380 and 380a, respectively. The stored host apparatus information may includewireless connection information (e.g., an SSID, an IP address, a MACaddress, a channel number, a security key, etc.), a product name of thehost apparatus 100, an identifier of the host apparatus 100, an MACaddress of the host apparatus 100, a type of the host apparatus 100, aprofile of the selected host apparatus 100, a communication method ofthe host apparatus 100, or the like.

In operation S702 of FIG. 7, the host apparatus 100 outputs content,which is executed in an application, to the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301 (operation S802).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may output the contentreproduced in the application to the plurality of external apparatuses300 and 301 that are connected to the host apparatus 100. According tothe user or a preset condition (e.g., to display a news channel at 10a.m., etc.), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may executethe application. In the executed application, the content is reproduced(e.g., the content is displayed on a screen, is transmitted via acommunication unit, or is output via a speaker). Various contents may bereproduced in applications according to types of the applications.

The control units 310 and 310 a of the plurality of external apparatuses300 and 301 may output the content received via the communication units330 and 330 a, respectively. For example, when the received content is avideo, the control units 310 and 310 a of the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301 may output the content by using the displayunits 370 and 370 a and the speakers 375 and 375 a, respectively. Whenthe received content is an audio, the control units 310 and 310 a of theplurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301 may output the content viathe speakers 375 and 375 a, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maytransmit audio data to each of the plurality of external apparatuses 300and 301. The audio data is included in a video file reproduced in thefirst video player application 500. The control units 310 and 310 a ofthe plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301 may output the audiodata via the speakers 375 and 375 a, respectively. The control unit 110of the host apparatus 100 may output the video file reproduced in thefirst video player application 500 via a touch screen and/or a speakerof the host apparatus 100.

Here, the host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200 are notconnected in a wireless manner. In addition, the host apparatus 100 andthe plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301 are connected in awireless manner with each other.

In operation S702 of FIG. 7, the connection between the host apparatus100 and the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301 issubstantially similar to the connection between the host apparatus 100and the external apparatus 300 in operations S302 of FIG. 3, thus,redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S703 of FIG. 7, an application is executed in the targetapparatus 200 (operation S803).

Referring to FIG. 9A, a user performs a first touch 296 on the shortcuticon 293 a on a screen of the target apparatus 200 (e.g., a tabletapparatus). The shortcut icon 293 a corresponds to a second video playerapplication. The control unit 210 may detect the first touch 296 byusing the touchscreen 290 and the touchscreen controller 295. Thecontrol unit 210 may calculate a first touch position 296 a (e.g., X1and Y1 coordinates) corresponding to the first touch 296, by using anelectrical signal received from the touchscreen controller 295.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may execute a second video player application 501, according to thefirst touch 296. Folder (e.g., a video1 folder, a video2 folder, and amusic1 folder) storing various contents (e.g., video files) that areexecutable in the executed second video player application 501 aredisplayed. When the user selects content to be reproduced from onefolder, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may display thecontent on a window of the second video player application 501, and mayoutput an audio of the content via the speaker 275.

In some exemplary embodiments, the second video player application 501may not reproduce the content or may reproduce the content.

When the second video player application 501 is executed in the targetapparatus 200, the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 arenot connected in a wireless manner with each other. The host apparatus100 and the external apparatus 300 are connected in a wireless mannerwith each other.

In operation S703 of FIG. 7, the connection between the host apparatus100 and the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301 issubstantially similar to the connection between the host apparatus 100and the external apparatus 300 in operations S301 of FIG. 3, thus,redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S704 of FIG. 7, the host apparatus 100 and the targetapparatus 200 are connected (operation S804).

Referring to FIG. 9C, when the second video player application 501 isexecuted in the target apparatus 200, the control unit 210 of the targetapparatus 200 may search for an adjacent host apparatus by using themobile communication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230. Thehost apparatus 100 that is a connection target may be selected by a userfrom a search list (not shown) corresponding to a search resultdisplayed on a screen of the target apparatus 200.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may store the apparatusinformation of the host apparatus 100 in the storage unit 275, accordingto the connection with the host apparatus 100.

When the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connected,the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may transmit, to thehost apparatus 100, second application information corresponding to theexecuted second video player application 501 by using the mobilecommunication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230.

In operation S704 of FIG. 7, the connection between the host apparatus100 and the target apparatus 200 is substantially similar to theconnection between the host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200in operations S304 of FIG. 3, thus, redundant descriptions thereof areomitted here.

In operation S705 of FIG. 7, the plurality of pieces of externalapparatus information are transmitted from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200 (operation S805).

When the target apparatus 200 and the host apparatus 100 are connected,the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit, to thetarget apparatus 200 and by using the communication unit 130, theplurality of pieces of external apparatus information corresponding tothe plurality of external apparatuses 300 and 301, respectively.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit all of theplurality of pieces of external apparatus information stored in thestorage unit 180 to the target apparatus 200 or may selectively transmita part of each of the plurality of pieces of external apparatusinformation stored in the storage unit 180 to the target apparatus 200.

In operation S705 of FIG. 7, the transmission of the plurality of piecesof external apparatus information from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200 is substantially similar to the transmission of theexternal apparatus information from the host apparatus 100 to the targetapparatus 200 in operations S305 of FIG. 3, thus, redundant descriptionsthereof are omitted here.

In operation S706 of FIG. 7, the target apparatus 200 requests the hostapparatus 100 to switch a wireless connection with a selected externalapparatus (operation S806).

When the target apparatus 200 receives the plurality of pieces ofexternal apparatus information from the host apparatus 100, the controlunit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may request (by usingaccessory_req) the host apparatus 100 to switch a wireless connectionwith at least one external apparatus of the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301 that interoperate with the host apparatus 100.

When external apparatus information is transmitted from the hostapparatus 100, in correspondence to transmission of the applicationinformation from the target apparatus 200 to the host apparatus 100, thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may request (by usingaccessory_req) the host apparatus 100 to switch a wireless connectionwith at least one external apparatus of the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301 that interoperate with the host apparatus 100.

Referring to FIG. 9C, when the target apparatus 200 receives theplurality of pieces of external apparatus information from the hostapparatus 100, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 maydisplay, on a screen of the target apparatus 200 and by using theplurality of pieces of external apparatus information, a pop-up window502 including information about external apparatuses with respect towhich wireless connection is to be switched. The pop-up window 502 mayinclude external apparatus names (e.g., a sound bar 502 a, a headphone502 b) of the external apparatuses with respect to which wirelessconnection is to be switched. A user may select at least one from thedisplayed external apparatus names. When the user selects one (e.g., theheadphone 502 b) of the external apparatus names, the control unit 210of the target apparatus 200 may store the selected external apparatusname (e.g., the headphone 502 b) in the storage unit 275. The controlunit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may add, to the accessory switchrequest message 632 a, an external apparatus mapping identifiercorresponding to the selected external apparatus name (e.g., theheadphone 502 b). The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 maytransmit, to the host apparatus 100, the accessory switch requestmessage 632 a to which the external apparatus mapping identifier hasbeen added.

The accessory switch request message 632 a to which the externalapparatus mapping identifier has been added may have a format shown inTable 1-1.

TABLE 1-1 Syntax Size(bit) Notes Accessory_Request_Format( ) { —Management message type=n 4 Target_Device_ID 6 Media info 8 0000: mediaplayer1 0001: video player1 0010: video player2 0011: media player20100: audio player1 . . . Accessory_mapping_ID 4 Reserved 1 } —

Here, a management message type field (i.e., Management message type)may indicate “1” corresponding to the accessory switch request message632 a (e.g., accessory_req). A target apparatus identifier field (i.e.,Target_Device_ID) may indicate an identifier for identifying the targetapparatus 200 from among various electronic apparatuses.

A media information field (i.e., Media info) may indicate an applicationthat is executed in the target apparatus 200. For example, when thesecond video player application 501 is executed in the target apparatus200, the media information field may indicate “0010”. The mediainformation field may indicate an application that is installed in thetarget apparatus 200. For example, if a first media player application,a first video player application, a second video player application, asecond media player application, and a first audio player applicationwere installed in the target apparatus 200, the media information fieldmay indicate “0000”, “0001”, “0010”, “0011”, and “0100”. The mediainformation field may indicate an application capable of executingcontent (e.g., a video) in the target apparatus 200. For example, whenan application of the target apparatus 200 that supports a video is thefirst media player application, the first video player application, thesecond video player application, the second media player application,and the first audio player application, the media information field mayindicate “0000”, “0001”, “0010”, “0011”, and “0100”.

The external apparatus mapping identifier may indicate an externalapparatus that is selected by the user. For example, when the selectedexternal apparatus is a headphone, the external apparatus mappingidentifier may indicate “0001”.

When the host apparatus 100 and the target apparatus 200 are connected,the host apparatus 100 is connected in a wireless manner with each ofthe target apparatus 200 and the plurality of external apparatuses 300and 301. The target apparatus 200 is not connected in a wireless mannerwith the selected external apparatus 300.

In operation S706 of FIG. 7, the external apparatus switch request fromthe target apparatus 200 to the host apparatus 100 is substantiallysimilar to the external apparatus switch request from the targetapparatus 200 to the host apparatus 100 in operation S306 of FIG. 3,thus, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S707 of FIG. 7, application compatibility is analyzed(operation S807).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 analyzes the applicationcompatibility by using the accessory switch request message. The controlunit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may compare compatibility between thefirst video player application 500 executed in the host apparatus 100and the second video player application 501 set in the media informationof the accessory switch request message. The compatibility may indicatewhether content that is executed in the first video player application500 is executable in the second video player application 501 of thetarget apparatus 200.

When the host apparatus 100 performs the compatibility comparison, thehost apparatus 100 is connected in a wireless manner with each of thetarget apparatus 200 and the plurality of external apparatuses 300 and301. The target apparatus 200 is not connected in a wireless manner withthe selected external apparatus 300.

In operation S707 of FIG. 7, the compatibility analysis performed by thehost apparatus 100 is substantially similar to the compatibilityanalysis performed by the host apparatus 100 in operation S307 of FIG.3, thus, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S708 of FIG. 7, the host apparatus 100 determines to switcha wireless connection with the external apparatus 300 (operation S808).

In correspondence to the compatibility comparison result (e.g.,determined as “compatible”), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus100 may determine to switch the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200.The external apparatus 300 is from among the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301 that interoperate with the host apparatus 100.By using the stored compatibility comparison information (e.g.,determined as “compatible”), the control unit 110 of the host apparatus100 may determine to switch the wireless connection with the externalapparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200.The external apparatus 300 is from among the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301 that interoperate with the host apparatus 100.In correspondence to the compatibility comparison result (e.g.,determined as “incompatible”), the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may determine to switch the wireless connection with theexternal apparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to the targetapparatus 200. The external apparatus 300 is from among the plurality ofexternal apparatuses 300 and 301 that interoperate with the hostapparatus 100.

When the host apparatus 100 determines to switch the wireless connectionwith the external apparatus 300, from among the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301, from the host apparatus 100 to the targetapparatus 200, the host apparatus 100 is connected in a wireless mannerwith each of the target apparatus 200 and the plurality of externalapparatuses 300 and 301. The target apparatus 200 is not connected in awireless manner with the selected external apparatus 300.

In operation S708 of FIG. 7, the determination, by the host apparatus100, related to switching the wireless connection with the selectedexternal apparatus 300 is substantially similar to the determination, bythe host apparatus 100, related to switching the wireless connectionwith the selected external apparatus 300 in operation S308 of FIG. 3,thus, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S709 of FIG. 7, the host apparatus 100 requests theselected external apparatus 300 for a host apparatus change, andreceives a response thereto from the selected external apparatus 300(operation S809).

When the host apparatus 100 determines to switch the wireless connectionwith the external apparatus 300 from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 mayrequest the external apparatus 300 that is the switch target for thehost apparatus change. For example, the host apparatus 100 may requestthe external apparatus 300 to change the host apparatus 100, which is acurrent host apparatus, to the target apparatus 200 that is another hostapparatus. The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmitnot only a request for the host apparatus change but may also transmitapparatus information of the target apparatus 200 (hereinafter, referredto as “target apparatus information”) that is stored in the storage unit180 to the external apparatus 300.

The control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may receive therequest for the host apparatus change via the communication unit 330. Incorrespondence to the request for the host apparatus change, the controlunit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may set so that the preset hostapparatus 100 can be changed to the new host apparatus that is thetarget apparatus 200. In response to the request for the host apparatuschange, the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 maytemporarily (or for a short period) store, in the storage unit 380, achange from the preset host apparatus 100 to the new host apparatus 200.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may receive, from theexternal apparatus 300, the response to the request for the hostapparatus change (e.g., “the host apparatus change is accepted”, etc.)by using the communication unit 130. The control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may store the received response to the request for thehost apparatus change in the storage unit 180.

In operation S709 of FIG. 7, the request for the host apparatus changefrom the host apparatus 100 to the selected external apparatus 300 andthe response to the request are substantially similar to the request forthe host apparatus change from the host apparatus 100 to the selectedexternal apparatus 300 and the response to the request in operation S309of FIG. 3, thus, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S710 of FIG. 7, a response to an external apparatus switchrequest is transmitted from the host apparatus 100 to the targetapparatus 200 (operation S810).

In correspondence to the compatibility analysis and the response, whichis received from the external apparatus 300, to the request for the hostapparatus change, the control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 maytransmit, to the target apparatus 200, the response to the externalapparatus switch request (e.g., the accessory switch request responsemessage 632 b).

The accessory switch request response message 632 b may have a formatshown in Table 2-1.

TABLE 2-1 Syntax Size(bit) Notes Accessory_Response_Format( ) { —Management message type=n 4 Host_Device_ID 6 Accessory_mapping_ID 4Target_Device_ID 6 Access_authority_info 2 00: Yes 11: NoWeb_source_info 2 00: Yes 11: No Reserved 1 } —

Here, a management message type field (i.e., Management message type)may indicate “2” corresponding to the accessory switch request responsemessage 632 b (e.g., accessory_res). A host apparatus identifier field(i.e., host_device_ID) may indicate an identifier of the host apparatus100 that interoperates with the external apparatus 300 and receives theexternal apparatus switch request from the target apparatus 200. Anexternal apparatus mapping identifier field (i.e., accessory_mapping_ID)may indicate an identifier of the external apparatus 300 thatinteroperates with the host apparatus 100. For example, a headphonefield may be “0001”.

In another exemplary embodiment, the control unit 110 of the hostapparatus 100 may transmit, to the target apparatus 200, the response tothe external apparatus switch request (e.g., the accessory switchrequest response message 632 b and the compatible application message632 c).

In operation S710 of FIG. 7, the transmission of the response to theexternal apparatus switch request from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200 is substantially similar to the transmission of theresponse to the external apparatus switch request from the hostapparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200 in operation S310 of FIG. 3,thus, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S711 of FIG. 7, the target apparatus 200 determines anaccess authority (operation S811).

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may receive, from thehost apparatus 100, the response to the external apparatus switchrequest (e.g., the accessory switch request response message 632 b) byusing the mobile communication unit 220 and/or the sub-communicationunit 230.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may determine thesecond video player application 501 as compatible, in correspondence toreception of the accessory switch request response message 632 b. Thecompatible second video player application 501 may execute, by controlof the control unit 210, content that is executed in the first videoplayer application 500. The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may determine whether to execute, via the second video playerapplication 501, the content that is executed in the first video playerapplication 500, by using the compatible information field of thecompatible application message 632 c.

In operation S711 of FIG. 7, the determination of the access authority,which is performed by the target apparatus 200, is substantially similarto the determination of the access authority, which is performed by thetarget apparatus 200, in operation S311 of FIG. 3, thus, redundantdescriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S712 of FIG. 7, the target apparatus 200 and the externalapparatus 300 are connected with each other (operation S812).

Referring to FIG. 9D, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200may search for the adjacent selected external apparatus 300 by using theaccessory switch request response message 632 b received via the mobilecommunication unit 220 and/or the sub-communication unit 230. Thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may search for the selectedexternal apparatus 300 by using an external apparatus mappingidentifier. The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may searchfor the external apparatus 300 by using pre-stored external apparatusinformation. The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may beconnected to the external apparatus 300 by using the external apparatusmapping identifier and the external apparatus information. The externalapparatus 300 that is a connection target may be selected, by a user,from a search list (not shown) corresponding to a search resultdisplayed on a screen of the target apparatus 200, and may be connectedwith the target apparatus 200.

In operation S712 of FIG. 7, the connection between the target apparatus200 and the selected external apparatus 300 is substantially similar tothe connection between the target apparatus 200 and the externalapparatus 300 in operation S312 of FIG. 3, thus, redundant descriptionsthereof are omitted here.

In operation S713 of FIG. 7, content is transmitted from the hostapparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200 (operation S813).

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit the content,which is executed in the first video player application 500, to thetarget apparatus 200 via the communication unit 130.

The control unit 110 of the host apparatus 100 may transmit not only thecontent but also first application information (e.g., a first videoplayer application) stored in the storage unit 180 to the targetapparatus 200.

In operation S713 of FIG. 7, the transmission of the content from thehost apparatus 100 to the target apparatus 200 is substantially similarto the transmission of the content from the host apparatus 100 to thetarget apparatus 200 in operation S313 of FIG. 3, thus, redundantdescriptions thereof are omitted here.

In operation S714 of FIG. 7, the content is output from the targetapparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300 (operation S814).

Referring to FIG. 9D, when the content is received from the hostapparatus 100, the control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 mayreproduce the content in the second video player application 501. Thecontrol unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may seamlessly reproducethe content in the second video player application 501 by using thefirst application information. The control unit 210 of the targetapparatus 200 may store the content and the first applicationinformation in the storage unit 275.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may provide a user witha feedback corresponding to the content execution (e.g., an output ofthe content from the target apparatus 200 to the external apparatus 300)in the second video player application 501.

The control unit 210 of the target apparatus 200 may output, to theexternal apparatus 300, the content that is reproduced in the secondvideo player application 501. The control unit 310 of the externalapparatus 300 may output the content via at least one of the displayunit 370 and the speaker 375. For example, when the content is a video,the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 may output thecontent via the display unit 370 and the speaker 375. When the contentis an audio, the control unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 mayoutput the content via the speaker 375.

In operation S714 of FIG. 7, the output of the content from the targetapparatus 200 to the selected external apparatus 300 is substantiallysimilar to the output of the content from the target apparatus 200 tothe external apparatus 300 in operation S314 of FIG. 3, thus, redundantdescriptions thereof are omitted here.

When the content of the target apparatus 200 is output to the externalapparatus 300, the method of outputting content, the method performed bythe host apparatus 100, the target apparatus 200, and the externalapparatus 300, is ended.

As described above, according to the electronic apparatus and the methodof outputting content, the method performed by the electronic apparatus,according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, theelectronic apparatus selectively outputs the content according toconnection between the external apparatus and the second electronicapparatus or according to connection between the external apparatus andthe first electronic apparatus, in correspondence to a switch of awireless connection with the external apparatus and a result of thecompatibility analysis.

According to the first electronic apparatus and the method of outputtingcontent, the method performed by the first electronic apparatus,according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, thefirst electronic apparatus is connected to the external apparatus andoutputs the content according to a result of the compatibility analysisand a request for switching a wireless connection with the externalapparatus that is connected to the second electronic apparatus andoutputs the content.

According to the first electronic apparatus and the method of outputtingcontent, the method performed by the first electronic apparatus,according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, thefirst electronic apparatus is connected to the external apparatus andseamlessly outputs the content according to the received firstapplication information and a request for switching a wirelessconnection with the external apparatus that is connected to the secondelectronic apparatus and outputs the content.

As described above, according to the external apparatus and the methodof outputting content, the method performed by the external apparatus,according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, theexternal apparatus selectively outputs the content according toconnection between the external apparatus and the second electronicapparatus or according to connection between the external apparatus andthe first electronic apparatus, in correspondence to a switch of awireless connection with the external apparatus and a result of thecompatibility analysis.

The one or more of the above exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcept can also be embodied as programmed commands to be executed invarious computer means, and then can be recorded to a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recordingmedium may include one or more of the programmed commands, data files,data structures, or the like. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium that is erasable or is re-recordable may be embodied asa volatile or non-volatile storage device such as a ROM, a memory suchas a RAM, a memory chip, or an integrated circuit, or a storage mediumsuch as a CD, a DVD, a magnetic disc or a magnetic tape that isoptically or magnetically recordable and simultaneously is readable by amachine (e.g., a computer). A memory that may be included in a mobileterminal is an example of a machine-readable storing medium for storingone or more programs that include instructions to implement one or moreof the above exemplary embodiments. The programmed commands recorded tothe non-transitory computer-readable recording medium may beparticularly designed or configured for the inventive concept.

It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described hereinshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplaryembodiment should typically be considered as available for other similarfeatures or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described withreference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of outputting content, the method performed by a first electronic apparatus and comprising: establishing a wireless communication connection with a second electronic apparatus, the second electronic apparatus wirelessly communicating with an external apparatus to output content reproduced in a first application to the external apparatus; receiving apparatus information of the external apparatus from the second electronic apparatus; requesting the second electronic apparatus to establish a wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus; receiving a response to the requesting from the second electronic apparatus; establishing a wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus based on the response; and outputting content by using an executed second application of the first electronic apparatus via the wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus, wherein the second application is compatible with the first application.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus comprises connecting with the external apparatus by using one of a part of the apparatus information of the external apparatus and a part of the response.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user input for executing the second application.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the apparatus information comprises receiving, from the second electronic apparatus, all or a part of the apparatus information of the external apparatus stored in the second electronic apparatus.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises transmitting, to the second electronic apparatus, an external apparatus switch request message comprising media information corresponding to information about the second application.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the response to the requesting comprises receiving, from the second electronic apparatus, a message comprising access authority information with respect to the external apparatus.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting of the content comprises reproducing the content in the second application and seamlessly outputting the content to the external apparatus.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting of the content comprises providing at least one of visual feedback, acoustic feedback, and tactile feedback, in response to the content reproduced in the second application being output to the external apparatus.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein, if a plurality of external apparatuses are connected with the second electronic apparatus, the receiving of the apparatus information comprises receiving, from the second electronic apparatus, each of a plurality of pieces of apparatus information of the plurality of external apparatuses.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the requesting comprises: in response to the plurality of pieces of apparatus information of the plurality of external apparatuses being received from the second electronic apparatus, selecting one of the plurality of external apparatuses that correspond to the plurality of pieces of received apparatus information, respectively; and requesting the second electronic apparatus to switch a wireless connection with the selected external apparatus from the second electronic apparatus to the first electronic apparatus.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to a response to the requesting to switch the wireless connection with the selected external apparatus being received, establishing a wireless communication connection with the selected external apparatus.
 12. A method of outputting content, the method performed by a second electronic apparatus and comprising: outputting, via a wireless communication connection with an external apparatus, content that is reproduced in a first application of the second electronic apparatus; establishing a wireless communication connection with a first electronic apparatus in which a second application is executed; transmitting, to the first electronic apparatus, apparatus information of the external apparatus; receiving, from the first electronic apparatus, a wireless connection switch request with respect to the external apparatus; analyzing compatibility between the first application and the second application; transmitting a response to the wireless connection switch request to the first electronic apparatus; and in response to the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus connecting, transmitting the content to the first electronic apparatus.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting of the apparatus information is performed according to one of connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus and reception of information about the first application.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the analyzing of the compatibility is performed in response to the wireless connection switch request being received from the first electronic apparatus.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: requesting the external apparatus to switch the wireless communication connection from the second electronic apparatus to the first electronic apparatus; and receiving, from the external apparatus, a response to the requesting.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting of the response to the wireless connection switch request is performed based on a result of the analyzing of the compatibility.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus being connected, terminating the wireless communication connection with the external apparatus.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting of the apparatus information comprises, in response to a plurality of external apparatuses being connected with the second electronic apparatus, transmitting, to the first electronic apparatus, each of a plurality of pieces of apparatus information of the plurality of external apparatuses.
 19. A method of outputting content, the method performed by an external apparatus and comprising: establishing a wireless communication connection with a second electronic apparatus and outputting content received from the second electronic apparatus; receiving a request for switching the wireless communication connection from the second electronic apparatus to a first electronic apparatus; transmitting a response to the request to the second electronic apparatus; establishing a wireless communication connection with the first electronic apparatus based on the response; receiving, from the first electronic apparatus, content corresponding to content received from the second electronic apparatus; and outputting the content received from the first electronic apparatus
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the outputting comprises outputting the content by using at least one from among a display unit and a speaker according to a type of the content.
 21. A first electronic apparatus configured to output content, the first electronic apparatus comprising: at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; at least one processor configured to execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing the at least one processor to perform: establishing a wireless communication connection with a second electronic apparatus; receiving apparatus information of the external apparatus from the second electronic apparatus; requesting the second electronic apparatus to establish a wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus; receiving a response to the requesting from the second electronic apparatus; establishing a wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus based on the response; outputting content to the external apparatus, the content corresponding to content output by the second electronic apparatus, via the wireless communication connection between the first electronic apparatus and the external apparatus.
 22. The first electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein, if a plurality of external apparatuses are connected with the second electronic apparatus, the receiving of the apparatus information comprises receiving, from the second electronic apparatus, each of a plurality of pieces of apparatus information of the plurality of external apparatuses.
 23. The first electronic apparatus of claim 22, wherein the requesting comprises: in response to the plurality of pieces of apparatus information of the plurality of external apparatuses being received from the second electronic apparatus, selecting one of the plurality of external apparatuses that correspond to the plurality of pieces of received apparatus information, respectively; and requesting the second electronic apparatus to switch a wireless connection with the selected external apparatus from the second electronic apparatus to the first electronic apparatus.
 24. The first electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to perform: in response to a response to the requesting to switch the wireless connection with the selected external apparatus being received, establishing a wireless communication connection with the selected external apparatus. 